Deduct 6 Meals?

A provider from Idaho asks: "If I use the standard meal allowance rate can I deduct three meals and three snacks a day per child, regardless of how many I actually serve?"

Nope.

Family child care providers who use the standard meal allowance method do not have to keep any food receipts for the food they serve. Under this rule you can deduct up to one breakfast, one lunch, one supper, and three snacks per day per child. But you have to serve the meals and snacks to be able to deduct them.

The food you serve does not have to be nutritious to be deductible on your tax return, although I strongly recommend that you participate on the Food Program and serve nutritious food. All providers can use the standard meal allowance rate regardless if they are on the Food Program or not.

All providers are better off financially if they join the Food Program. Click here to find a Food Program sponsor in your area.

Image credit: https://paleomg.com/easy-meals-i-make-at-home-in-under-30-minutes-6/

For more information, see my book Family Child Care Record Keeping Guide.