Is that still deductible? The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act generally eliminated the business deduction for entertainment expenses but not meal expenses. As long as certain conditions are met, taxpayers can still deduct 50% of the cost of business meals.
The IRS issued Notice 2018-76 spelling out the five conditions. The expense must be “ordinary and necessary;” the taxpayer (or an employee) must be present at the meal; the meal can’t be lavish; it must be provided to current or potential customers, and the meal cost must be separately stated from the entertainment cost.
