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PT 2 Publication 463 (2009), Travel, Entertainment
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 Posted 4:07 PM Feb. 28, 2010
Publication 463 (2009), Travel, Entertainment, Gift, and Car Expenses http://www.irs.gov/publications/p463/index.html Table of Contents What's NewStandard mileage rate. For 2009, the standard mileage rate for the cost of operating your car for business use is 55 cents per mile. Car expenses and use of the standard mileage rate are explained in chapter 4. Depreciation limits on cars, trucks, and vans. For 2009, the first-year limit on the total section 179 deduction, special depreciation allowance, and depreciation deduction for most cars remains $10,960 ($2,960 if you elect not to claim the special depreciation allowance). For trucks and vans, the first-year limit has decreased to $11,060 ($3,060 if you elect not to claim the special depreciation allowance). Depreciation limits are explained in chapter 4. ReminderPhotographs of missing children. The Internal Revenue Service is a proud partner with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Photographs of missing children selected by the Center may appear in this publication on pages that would otherwise be blank. You can help bring these children home by looking at the photographs and calling 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) if you recognize a child. IntroductionYou may be able to deduct the ordinary and necessary business-related expenses you have for:
An ordinary expense is one that is common and accepted in your trade or business. A necessary expense is one that is helpful and appropriate for your business. An expense does not have to be required to be considered necessary. This publication explains:
Who should use this publication. You should read this publication if you are an employee or a sole proprietor who has business-related travel, entertainment, gift, or transportation expenses.
Users of employer-provided vehicles. If an employer-provided vehicle was available for your use, you received a fringe benefit. Generally, your employer must include the value of the use or availability in your income. However, there are exceptions if the use of the vehicle qualifies as a working condition fringe benefit (such as the use of a qualified nonpersonal use vehicle).
A working condition fringe benefit is any property or service provided to you by your employer for which you could deduct the cost as an employee business expense if you had paid for it. A qualified nonpersonal use vehicle is one that is not likely to be used more than minimally for personal purposes because of its design. See Qualified nonpersonal use vehicles under Actual Car Expenses in chapter 4. For information on how to report your car expenses that your employer did not provide or reimburse you for (such as when you pay for gas and maintenance for a car your employer provides), see Vehicle Provided by Your Employer in chapter 6.
Who does not need to use this publication. Partnerships, corporations, trusts, and employers who reimburse their employees for business expenses should refer to their tax form instructions and chapter 11 of Publication 535, Business Expenses, for information on deducting travel, meals, and entertainment expenses.
If you are an employee, you will not need to read this publication if all of the following are true.
Volunteers. If you perform services as a volunteer worker for a qualified charity, you may be able to deduct some of your costs as a charitable contribution. See Out-of-Pocket Expenses in Giving Services in Publication 526, Charitable Contributions, for information on the expenses you can deduct.
Comments and suggestions. We welcome your comments about this publication and your suggestions for future editions.
You can write to us at the following address:
We respond to many letters by telephone. Therefore, it would be helpful if you would include your daytime phone number, including the area code, in your correspondence. You can email us at *taxforms@irs.gov. (The asterisk must be included in the address.) Please put “Publications Comment” on the subject line. Although we cannot respond individually to each email, we do appreciate your feedback and will consider your comments as we revise our tax products.
Ordering forms and publications. Visit www.irs.gov/formspubs to download forms and publications, call 1-800-829-3676, or write to the address below and receive a response within 10 days after your request is received.
Tax questions. If you have a tax question, check the information available on www.irs.gov or call 1-800-829-1040. We cannot answer tax questions sent to either of the above addresses.
Useful Items - You may want to see:Publication
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See chapter 7, How To Get Tax Help , for information about getting these publications and forms.
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