biz/pers trip time counting

[Gretel]

I try to be as clear as I can.

Employee has to make a trip to go see sister in A. Employer says, great, on your way stop at these three places and also in A. stops at these place.

I need to figure out if this trip is more biz than personal, don't I? Does it make a difference that she is "send" by employer who will be paying for the trip?

What exactly is included is "time spend for business"

- In A.: once she leaves the accommodation all travel time plus time spend at these places, all business?

- on trip: all time spend going off "regular route", only time spend once leaving the highway?

I know that all extra mileage is biz but but I really struggle with this time counting. I assume all is based on a 8hr work day? any other hours?

Am I making this too complicated?

[BP.]

Am I making this too complicated?

Maybe. I only say that because of this:

employer ... will be paying for the trip

If you still need to allocate for some reason, Pub 17 p. 198 has a few paragraphs and examples. Maybe they'll help.

[Gretel]

Thanks, BP. However, these examples relate to education expenses.

[FEDUKE404]

Confusion reigns

If it is a business trip, and the employer is paying for the business portions of the trip, what relevance could any unrelated personal diversions/extensions have to do with income taxes? (The employer might have an interest in the expense account for such, however....)

OTOH, if it is for all intents and purposes a personal trip that is somehow being transmogrified into a business trip, even if by a crafty employer, then the rules are different. BP has provided you info on that aspect.

FWIW: Your comment that "employee HAS to make a (personal) trip" might be a good starting point.

FE

[Gretel]

This is what I was trying to figure out. Everything I read points to actual time spend for business, and if it is over 50% then all travel expenses are deductible (other then expenses directly related to personal time). These are legitimate biz stops. I didn't see anything in what I read that points to intent, which is the main thing in a lot of other business expense evaluation.

[BP.]

Thanks, BP. However, these examples relate to education expenses.

OK sorry! Try p. 179, but I think the underlying theory is simliar.

[Gretel]

OK sorry! Try p. 179, but I think the underlying theory is simliar.

Thanks, I studied that back and forth but it didn't give me what I was looking for.