New Bill Restores Tax Deductions for Travel Expenses

Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, has filed a legislation that would restore the deduction for travel expenses incurred by a taxpayer’s spouse who accompanies the taxpayer on a business trip.  Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-SC, has likewise filed a senate version of the bill.

The title of the bill is “A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to restore the deduction for the travel expenses of a taxpayer’s spouse who accompanies the taxpayer on business travel.”

As indicated by the title of the proposed legislation, the bill seeks to amend the Internal Revenue Code(“IRC”) to repeal the restrictions on the tax deduction for the travel expenses of a taxpayer’s spouse, dependent, or other individual accompanying the taxpayer on business travel.

Abercrombie introduced the bill on the congressional floor on January 15, 2009. Congress then referred it to the House Committee on Ways and Means for study and deliberation.  Graham introduced the senate version on the same day, after which it was referred to the Senate Committee on Finance.

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