Part 1: Employee business expenses and reimbursements. Complete Part 1 if you were reimbursed for employee business expenses., and Eliot Thomas, Esq. What counts as a legitimately deductible expense? This comprehensive guide on "how to charge clients for travel expenses" will walk you through the essential steps while keeping their satisfaction in mind. With our list of the best write-offs for chefs, you'll be cooking up a (tax) reduction that will make anyone's mouth water. Whether you're traveling for business and need a bite to eat or you plan to host an important client for dinner, meals are a common business expense. You may deduct meals, hotel accommodation, transportation as TRAVEL expense for business purposes. Editor: Mark G. Cook, CPA, CGMA. Merely paying or incurring an expense is not sufficient to entitle a taxpayer to a deduction under Sec.