You’re not the first doctor to ask this.
You’re scrolling through conference options, thinking about that dermatology summit in Scottsdale, and wondering, “If I book a couple of extra days by the pool, can I write the whole thing off?”
Fair question. And the short answer? Sometimes. But not always.
So can doctors deduct their vacations? Here’s what actually matters when it comes to writing off travel.
It has to start with a real business reason
You can’t just slap the word “conference” on a vacation and expect it to fly.
The IRS is pretty strict about this stuff. For your trip to even be in the running for a deduction, there has to be a legit business reason at the center of it.
That means things like:
- Attending a medical conference that’s tied to your specialty
- Scouting out a location for a second practice
- Meeting with someone about a potential partnership
- Doing strategic planning with your business partner
It has to be something that actually relates to your practice, your income, or your ability to grow as a physician and business owner.
So yes, going to a dermatology conference counts.
Booking a weekend in Napa and having lunch with your old med school roommate who now owns a practice? That’s a harder sell.
It’s totally fine if you mix business and pleasure
You’re allowed to enjoy your trip. You’re allowed to have a glass of wine after a day of conference sessions or even stay a couple extra days after your business is wrapped. That part is fine.
What matters is how the time is structured. If the trip is primarily for business, and the personal stuff is just tacked on, many of the travel costs can still be deducted.
Here’s the general rule: if most of your days are work-focused, your airfare is probably deductible.
Your hotel costs during the business portion may be, too.
But the extra night or two for sightseeing? That’s personal. You’ll want to separate that out when it comes time to file.
You can’t just “talk shop” and write it off
This is where some people get tripped up. Grabbing a drink with another physician and chatting about your practice doesn’t make your trip a write-off. There needs to be a specific business purpose.
Think about it like this. If the IRS asked you, “What exactly was the purpose of this trip,” could you give a clear answer? Something that would make sense on paper?
Just saying you “networked” won’t cut it.
You can bring your spouse or kids, but…
Their expenses aren’t deductible unless they work in your business and are coming along for a business reason.
If your spouse handles payroll for your practice and attends a medical admin conference with you, great. That’s a valid business expense. But if they’re lounging at the pool while you’re in a seminar, their airfare and meals are personal.
The same goes for kids. Bringing them along? Totally fine. Just don’t try to include their costs on your tax return.
Meals are a maybe. Entertainment is a no.
You can usually deduct part of the cost of meals while traveling for business. That includes your own meals and meals with others where business is discussed. But even then, you’re generally limited to half the cost.
Entertainment used to be deductible years ago, but not anymore. So no, the round of golf or the wine tour doesn’t count, even if you’re talking business between holes.
What you probably didn’t know: timing can actually work in your favor
Here’s something a lot of doctors don’t realize.
Let’s say you’ve got a conference on Monday and another meeting or event on Thursday. If you’re staying in the same city, the IRS generally considers the days in between to be business days too. That means your hotel, meals, and other travel costs for those gap days might be deductible, even if you’re not in sessions the whole time.
It doesn’t work if you just hang around for fun, but if it wouldn’t make sense to fly home and come back, that time may count. This is one of those small strategy tweaks that adds up, especially if you’re already spending the money.
When we help doctors with tax planning, we look for these kinds of details. Travel is just one area where planning ahead can make something deductible that otherwise wouldn’t be.
It’s not about pushing the rules. It’s about understanding how they work and using them the right way.
The most important part is keeping track of everything
If there’s one thing you take away from this post, it’s this: document everything.
Even if your trip clearly qualifies, you still need backup. That means saving:
- Conference agendas
- Flight and hotel receipts
- Emails setting up meetings
- Notes about what you discussed and who was involved
It doesn’t have to be a binder full of paperwork. A calendar note, a couple of screenshots, and a folder in your inbox can be enough.
But if the IRS ever asks, you’ll want to show that there was a real reason for the trip.
So, can you write off your vacation?
If it’s a vacation with a quick meeting tossed in, probably not.
If it’s a business trip that happens to be somewhere beautiful, and you stay a couple extra days? That might qualify.
The rules aren’t impossible, but they do need to be followed closely. If you’re not sure whether your trip is deductible, ask before you go. It’s a lot easier to plan for it now than try to clean it up later.
At MedTax, we help doctors sort through stuff like this all the time. We’ll tell you exactly what counts, what doesn’t, and how to make it clean and easy come tax time.
Planning a trip?
Reach out to MedTax before you board that flight. We’re always here to help.
Until next time!
