What does it mean to substantiate an expense?

Substantiating an expense simply means record keeping in accordance with IRS guidelines.  Typically the following information should be recorded for any expense:

  • date of purchase
  • description of purchase
  • amount of purchase
  • business purpose (i.e. why was this necessary?)

Most expenses that do not require a receipt still must be substantiated.  Travel expenses that do not exceed $75 are an example of these types of expenses.  For example, assume a pilot or flight attendant tips the van driver $1 to get from the airport to the hotel.  That $1 tip does not require a receipt because it is less than $75 (note that having 100 $1 tips does not require receipts, but 1 $100 expense would because the individual expense exceeded $75).  Even though a receipt for a van tip might not be required, it still must be substantiated.  


EZPerDiem helps to automatically substantiate van tips.

What's all this about?



EZPerDiem helps pilots and flight attendants with their flight crew taxes by:

  • Calculating your per diem deduction using two methods!
  • Helping you find flight crew tax deductions you are not aware of!
  • Organizing all the deductions on a Final Tax Report!
  • Making it easy for you to give the report to an account or enter into TurboTax!

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If you do not benefit, we will provide a 100% refund!

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