What can a daycare provider claim for food on income taxes?

I am a home daycare provider and this is the first time I have done my taxes. I was wondering if there is a standard meal rate that I can claim?

Public Comments

1. You can deduct the actual cost of the food that you provide for the children in your care. There is no standard meal rate for this, you must use your actual cost for the food that is provided exclusively for the children

   Your meals are not deductible.



2. You must be licensed (or in the process of getting a license) to qualify to take any expenses.

   See IRS publication 587.

   Actually you can take either the actual cost or the standard rate for daycare meals. You must have records and must subtract out any reimbursements.

   Standard meal and snack rates. If you qualify as a family daycare provider, you can use the standard meal and snack rates, instead of actual costs, to compute the deductible cost of meals and snacks provided to eligible children.

   If you use the standard meal and snack rates, you must maintain records to substantiate the computation of the total amount deducted for the cost of food provided to eligible children. The records kept should include the name of each child, dates and hours of attendance in the daycare, and the type and quantity of meals and snacks served.

   Of course at standard rate of 58 cents for a snack, you may actually have spent more.



3. Not a standard rate - keep receipts for the items you purchase, you can deduct the actual cost to feed the kids you are watching - not just meals, but also snacks..