Expert: Richard Stolp - 6/20/2011

Question
Dear Mr. Stolp,
    I was recently employed by as a special events designer of jewelry traveling the West Coast of the US. I was paid per event while the company paid for lodging and gas in their van. Food and ancillary expenses were my responsibility. What wasn't paid was the travel time between stores, some 50 to 60 hours per month,  which was my personal time. Can I claim this time on my tax return at an average rate of monies earned during the paid events?
Thank you.

Answer
Hi Steve,
You should be able to claim most expenses on the road. If you were on company business - like traveling from city to city - I would take meals as non-reimbursed business expenses. You can't take stuff you did like going to a movie or sightseeing, but laundry and anything business related, even calls home, should be allowed.
RS