Which receipts must I keep? Receipts are required for lodging, rental cars, gas purchases when using a rental car, and any other expenses over $75.
Claiming fuel costs without receipts You can claim the fuel you use for work-related purposes without receipts if you use the cents per kilometre method. With this method, you can claim for up to 5,000 km of work-related trips without receipts for the financial year (the rate for 2024-25 is 88c per km).
If you choose to claim an expense without a receipt, make sure you have other proof of the transaction, either on a bank statement or as detailed notes. You need to be able to demonstrate that the expense is solely for business use and that the amounts have been recorded and calculated accurately.
You generally must have documentary evidence, such as receipts, canceled checks, or bills, to support your expenses. Additional evidence is required for travel, entertainment, gifts, and auto expenses.
Cents per kilometre. You can claim a flat rate of 85c per kilometre for every business kilometre you cover for the 2024 year (increasing to 88 cents per business kilometre in the 2025 year). You'll need to keep a diary of all work-related journeys so you can work out how many kilometres you've travelled for work.
What Is the Cohan Rule? The Cohan rule makes it possible to get through a tax audit without receipts. This rule allows taxpayers to claim reasonable expenses even if they don't have supporting documents.
Whenever business expenses are claimed it is a good idea to keep detailed records and receipts for everything. Business expenses can be charged to a practice credit card, receipts should be obtained from taxi drivers or other modes of transportation, and a detailed copy of the hotel bill should be kept.
Nothing happens unless you get audited. If you get audited they will expect those original receipts or invoices. A bank statement or credit card statement is enough for for accountant to figure out your yearly taxes and do book keeping but not enough for cra during an audit.
First thing you can do if you can tell where the receipts should come from is reach out to the company directly and request the process for receipts. Many established companies keep internal documentation of that and I've had to reach out to some to get receipts in cases like this, avoiding the middle man.
Can you claim deductions if you don't have receipts? Yes, you can claim deductions if you don't have receipts. For general expenses, you'll need an alternative record showing the transaction date, amount, and purpose.