Our rentals are about 500 miles from our home.
We made three trips, eighteen nights total, all for the completion of genuine repairs. We have all the necessary documentation to demonstrate the validity of these trips. That's more nights than normal, but we made a point to work on a single property per day so as not to carry germs from one tenant to the next.
We rent a car every trip, and use the mileage rate, because it's usually better.
We have no lodging expenses, as one of the properties has a casita.
Normally, I keep track of what we spend on meals and turn those numbers in to our CPA. Due to the pandemic, I prepared most of our meals ahead of time at home and packed coolers. We made, at most, one grocery run per trip.
How do I handle the food/meal expenses? Is there a per diem amount I can use? Spitball? Ignore this expense this year? What would you do?
I know I can ask my CPA at our tax appointment tomorrow, but I'd like to have all the information pulled together ahead of time. I've checked the IRS website, but I'm still not clear.
Thanks, mustachians!