How to find out if out of town lunches are expensable?

[Monsterlover]

A coworker and I are wondering if we should be able to turn in our lunch receipts and have them paid for by the company.

If we take a customer to lunch, that's a no brainer.  We can turn that in and it's covered.

He thinks that if he drives 50 miles he is able to turn in lunch for just himself and have it covered.

We're outside salesmen, btw.

I googled but didn't find much.  Does anyone know how this works?  There's a little more to this, but Im holding back till a little later.

Are there any laws that govern this?

[NAKID]

Probably not except in the situation you mentioned. Problem is, the boss is going to argue that you could bring your lunch with you....

[DY]

That would all be company specific.  Some are more lax about reimbursing trip expenses, but at a time like this, I'd expect more to be stingy.  But at the least, it would be tax deductible. 

[somegirl]

For me, travel-related expenses including meals are reimbursable.  But the policy does definitely vary with company (and even within a company sometimes, between departments).

[r_ciao]

It was explained to me that if you are not spending the night, then no.  A lunch with peers usually cannot be expensed.  That's why it's always a good idea to take someone with a more senior position and have him/her pick up the tab.  Smarter outside salepeople will indicate that a customer was entertained, even if that person never actually showed up.  On the other hand, plead ignorance, write it off.  "Tis easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask permission.

[cyrus buelton]

That would all be company specific. 

+1

That is totally company specific.

My company allows you to expense 15$ (ballpark) for lunch while traveling out of town on company business.

Our sales reps are allowed to do the same.

Now, if you are self employed, that is something you would need to ask your accountant.

If you work for a company, then that is something you should ask your Accounts Payable Department or the business function that controls your Travel and Entertainment Policy


(this is my line of work)

I just pissed off 400 sales reps by getting text messaging blocked on their work phones. If you have a company issued Blackberry, there is no need for text messaging for business purposes if all your co-workers and managers have Blackberry's.

Sorry, work phone = personal phone

cost savings per year by eliminating this feature = 124k

[somegirl]

I just pissed off 400 sales reps by getting text messaging blocked on their work phones. If you have a company issued Blackberry, there is no need for text messaging for business purposes if all your co-workers and managers have Blackberry's.

Sorry, work phone = personal phone

cost savings per year by eliminating this feature = 124k

That's true if you only have to contact internal people.  However, sometimes I need to contact customers while traveling.  International text messages are far cheaper than international phone calls.

[lethe]

cyrus the miser

[NAKID]

That's true if you only have to contact internal people.  However, sometimes I need to contact customers while traveling.  International text messages are far cheaper than international phone calls.

Isn't one of the main features of a crackberry email?

[somegirl]

Isn't one of the main features of a crackberry email?

Yes.  (BTW you also get charged more for email data plans when roaming internationally.)

My customers do not always have a crackberry.  They also are not always in front of a computer.

Therefore if I urgently need to get in touch a customer who has a mobile phone, but not a crackberry, I either need to call them or send a text.   If I'm overseas I would get charged for both roaming and an international call.  An international text is about 50 cents.

[cyrus buelton]

Yes.  (BTW you also get charged more for email data plans when roaming internationally.)

My customers do not always have a crackberry.  They also are not always in front of a computer.

Therefore if I urgently need to get in touch a customer who has a mobile phone, but not a crackberry, I either need to call them or send a text.   If I'm overseas I would get charged for both roaming and an international call.  An international text is about 50 cents.

Yes, there is an additional cost for international unlimited data, but isn't that significant based upon our pricing model.


The individuals I am speaking about are all DOMESTIC based users. No international.

Therefore, any talk of international use for this group is not applicable.

cyrus the miser

damn straight.

Through several proposals, I saved the company 463k a year last week

[NAKID]

Yes, there is an additional cost for international unlimited data, but isn't that significant based upon our pricing model.


The individuals I am speaking about are all DOMESTIC based users. No international.

Therefore, any talk of international use for this group is not applicable.


damn straight.

Through several proposals, I saved the company 463k a year last week

In the Navy, if we save the Gov't that kind of money, we can get a monetary award. I hope you get something for that!

[squidwood]

I believe if you are 50 miles from your domicile then lunches are classed as expensable.
Consult your CPA.

[cyrus buelton]

In the Navy, if we save the Gov't that kind of money, we can get a monetary award. I hope you get something for that!

HA!

You have never worked in corporate america, have you?

Damn Chris, that made me laugh pretty hard.

[NAKID]

What's your incentive for saving them money then?