Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

Chapter 1

• Determine the difference between transportation and business travel under §162 by identifying types of business travel expenses and the deduction & amortization requirements of §165 and §195.
• Specify deductible travel costs to find a new job, identify investor travel expenses, and determine deductible transportation.
• Identify the business purpose requirement the complications of mixed business and personal travel and costs at a destination.
• Recognize the IRS’s and Circuit Courts’ definition of “tax home,” identify when a taxpayer lacks a tax home, and specify the “away from home” requirement including the sleep and rest rule.
• Identify temporary and indefinite job assignments recognizing the critical factor in distinguishing the two job assignments.

Chapter 2

• Identify the elements of domestic business travel and what costs are deductible.
• Specify the “point-to-point” rule for different modes of transportation and which expenses incurred on a business trip with an extended stay or side trip are deductible.
• Identify the rules for foreign business travel.
• Recognize the deduction of convention and meeting expenses based on Reg. §1.162
• Determine the rules and limitations on cruise ship conventions specifying the luxury water travel exception, recognize the companion travel expense limitations, and identify whether expenses for aides to handicapped taxpayers accompanying the taxpayers on business trips are deductible travel expenses.

Chapter 3

• Determine what constitutes transportation, local transportation, and commuting, recognize when parking fees are deductible, and specify the effect of the Washburn case on commuting deductions.
• Identify the regular/irregular rule, determine a temporary work site under R.R. 90-23, recognize the impact of R.R. 94-47 and R.R. 99-7 on transportation between a taxpayer’s residence and workplace, specify the §280A home office requirements and their impact on business transportation, and identify the hauling tool rule.

Chapter 4

• Recognize the apportionment of business and personal use of an automobile.
• Determine actual cost method expenses, auto depreciation and §179 expensing.
• Recognize the §179 expensing deduction’s relationship to depreciation and when to use it.
• Specify the impact of the §280F predominate business use rule, as established by the Tax Reform Act of 1984, on depreciation, excess deductions, and the former investment tax credit.
• Determine automobile leasing elements recognizing vehicle purchase differences, specify various leasing terminology including closed-end and open-end, identify monthly lease payments and income inclusion amounts, and cite the leasing deduction restrictions.
• Identify the mechanics of the standard mileage method including the ability to switch methods, deduct charitable and medical transportation, and MACRS depreciation limitations.
• Recognize the differences between trading and selling a vehicle and the use of employer-provided vehicles as §132 fringe benefits.

Chapter 5

• Determine entertainment using Reg. §1.274 and other related deductible business expenses.
• Identify the pre-2018 deductible entertainment tests of §274.
• Identify former deductible home entertainment expenses, determine the prior limits on ticket purchases, and cite provisions under which goodwill entertainment was previously deductible.
• Recognize the 50% reduction for meals and pre-2018 entertainment and related expenses including exceptions.
• Determine what constitutes an entertainment facility specifying excluded facilities types and costs and recognize the effect of OBRA ’93 on club dues.
• Identify the tax benefits and substantiation requirements for business gifts, employee achievement awards, and sales incentive awards.

Chapter 6

• Identify expense categories subject to the detailed substantiation requirements of §274(d) and the exceptions to these requirements, and specify elements to be proven and which elements must be proven for the expense type.
• Cite ways to substantiate travel and pre-2018 entertainment expenses using required records.
• Recognize the sufficiently corroborated statements method of substantiation including when this method can be used, and determine methods that can be used to substantiate the requisite elements of listed property expenditures and how long records should be retained.

Chapter 7

• Identify whether an employee must file Form 2106, determine the substantiation requirements of TRA ‘86 and Family Support Act 1988, and specify the requirements for an accountable plan and “reasonable period of time” safe harbors.
• Determine how to adequately account for travel and other employee business expenses.
• Determine how to report income and expenses with or without adequate accounting, specify the differences between entertainment and non-entertainment expenses incurred by an independent contractor, identify whether an employer can take deductions for reimbursed travel, meals, and/or business gifts, and determine how to make appropriate disclosures on tax returns of required information.