So I can provide my ticket receipts for 2008, subtract what I was reimbursed for meals/incidentals, and claim the remainder?
Cool... I spent 61 days abroad last year. The difference between what I was able to expense for meals vs. the federal rates is easily $50-100/day. That just might be enough to push me underneath the threshold for alternative minimum tax...
It is my understanding that the write offs we get for meals and incidentals as crew members are specific for workers in the transportation industry. There may be differences for others. Another example of our crazy tax laws. Read below:
For the tax year 2008, 80% of the difference between your meal
expenses calculated, based on the federal per diem rates, and the
amount reimbursed by your company is now allowed as an
employee business expense deduction.
Nearly every city in Europe has a per diem rate over $100.00 for
meal expenses! The strength of the Euro over the US dollar has
raised the federal per diem rate to nearly $150.00 for almost
every city in Europe. Based on calculations for returns we are
preparing, if you average 5 trips per month to London or Paris you
can reasonably expect to claim between $15,000 or $20,000 as a
meal expense based on the federal per diem rates.
After deducting the reimbursement from your company and
applying the meal expense percentage for employees in the
transportation industry, an individual in the 15% marginal tax
bracket would receive an additional $1,000 to $1,500 refund. If
you are in the 25% marginal tax bracket, that additional refund
amount would increase to between $1,750 and $2,500!