I was deployed to a disaster area for my job, as a FEMA contractor, and was paid by my work. Can I claim food and supplies during my service that were not reimbursed?

Forum|Forum|11 months ago
April 15, 2025
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Vanessa A

It depends. If you were a W-2 employee, then no, you cannot claim the food and supplies or any job related expenses.

If you were an independent contractor, then yes, you can claim food and supplies as a business expense on your schedule C.

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smakalaniAuthor

I am a W-2 employee, however in a disaster area we had no access to food or supplies that we had to obtain ourselves and no reimbursement was given. As EMS providers we are allowed to take meals since we don't have a station, but I just didn't know how to list it on Turbo.

Vanessa A

If you are a W-2 employee, under current tax law, there are no exceptions to the meal deduction on your federal return. As an employee (unless you are a statutory employee which enters their income on Schedule C and would have a checkmark in box 13) you cannot deduct your meals or expenses. If you do not have a schedule C attached to your return, you cannot claim the meals.

Depending on the state you live in, you may be able to claim a credit on your return for the meals.

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