How do I claim travel expenses as an employee?

As a salaried or commission employee, you’re considered eligible to claim travel expenses if:

• You must normally work away from your place of employment.
• You had to pay for your own work-related travel and weren’t reimbursed.
• You didn’t receive a nontaxable travel allowance.
• You have a copy of Form T2200 signed by your employer. Don’t submit this form with your return, but keep it for your records.

Eligible travel expenses are, for the most part, the same for both salaried and commission employees. You can claim costs you paid for:

• Travel fare, such as plane, train, or bus tickets. If you’re a commission employee, your fare must have been paid only to earn commission.
• Food and drinks for yourself (not for clients), as long as you were away for at least 12 hours at a time.
  • The cost of food and drinks bought while on a plane, train, bus, ferry, and so on can also be claimed if they weren’t included in the fare.
  • Note: The government considers 50% of the costs of food and drinks consumed while travelling to be a personal expense and not an employment expense, so only 50% of the expense can be claimed.
• Lodging
• Parking

Only commission employees can claim the cost of entertainment bought while on a plane, train, or bus, as long as it wasn’t included in the ticket price.

Motor vehicle expenses aren’t included in employment travel expenses. You’ll have the chance to claim both travel expenses and motor vehicle expenses in the same section of TurboTax.

1. Answer the initial Personal info and Tax profile interview questions if you haven't already. This unlocks the Tax home screen.
2. From the Tax home screen, under Add to your return, enter Employment and select Employment Expenses.
3. At the Employment Expenses screen, select Yes to Does this apply to you?
4. At the Employment Expenses Profile screen, select T2200, then continue. If you don’t have this form signed by your employer, you can’t claim the expenses.
5. Select the checkbox for Other Employment Expenses (and any other applicable checkboxes), answer the GST/HST rebate question, then select Continue.
6. At the Other Employment Expenses screen, enter your travel expenses on their corresponding lines. Use your expense receipts to enter your amounts (including tax).
7. When you’re finished, select continue and proceed through the screens that follow.
   • If you live in Québec, you’ll reach the General Employment Conditions screen, which you can complete now or later.

1. Complete the Introduction/Profile steps of your return until the Find button appears in the menu.
2. Find from the menu, and enter and select employment expenses, then select Go.
3. At the Employment expenses screen, select Yes to Incurred expenses for the purpose of earning employment income, then Continue.
4. At the Employment Expenses Profile screen, select the checkbox for Other Employment Expenses (and any other applicable checkboxes), then select Continue.
5. On the Other Employment Expenses screen, select the GST/HST rebate checkbox if applicable, then enter your travel expenses on their corresponding lines. Use your expense receipts to enter your amounts (including tax).
6. When you’re finished, select continue and proceed through the screens that follow.
   • If you live in Québec, you’ll reach the General Employment Conditions screen, which you can complete now or later.