Business Travel Expenses - What Every Businessperson Needs to Know

Travel can be very expensive. When you travel for business, many of your expenses can be written off at tax time. This will save you a lot of money if you know how to do it correctly. But you don't want to overdo it and risk being audited. It's a careful process and some areas have thin lines. You'll want to know exactly what you're doing.

The most important thing to know is what is deductible and what isn't. A lot of things can be written off as business travel expenses, but you don't want to get ridiculous with it or you could find yourself in trouble. Ask yourself if your trip is primarily for business, or pleasure. Even if it is primarily a business trip, things you do for pleasure on the side may not be deductible.

When a purchase IS business related, you can write it off. Nearly anything counts. Hotel rooms, airfare, travel documents, meals, cab fare, dry cleaning, and business related long distance calls. But you'll need to save all the documentation. This mostly pertains to receipts. While you may not need to send the receipts with your tax claim, you will need to have them in case you get audited so that you can back up your claims if they are called into question.

The Business Traveller - Tips for Motels

For the weary business traveller a Motel can be a 'home away from home.' After spending hours on the road and in meetings, a motel provides a place where they can relax and unwind. That is why it is important a Motel provides the service and the small luxuries to make a business guests' stay comfortable and hopefully memorable.

When booking Motel accommodation a discerning business traveller will look for:

    internet connection
    work space
    clean, comfortable and quiet rooms
    a TV
    breakfast facilities
    central location
    parking
    corporate rates.

Wireless internet connection is vital for today's business. Most Motels are able to provide this service, some will even provide a set amount of Data for free. Internet access not only enables the business traveller to work, but also gives them the freedom of staying connected to their friends and family in the evenings, when they may need it most.

Internet access is also essential for Motels that have conference and/or meeting rooms. Technology such as video conferencing, interactive training, and online product demonstrations, all require business guests to access high-speed internet. Printing facilities should also be provided by reception, as with fax, and where possible a projector.