Can a travel vlogger deduct all travel expenses?

Not automatically. The IRS requires a genuine business purpose beyond 'I filmed while I was there.' Trips specifically planned and executed for content creation with documented business intent are more defensible than personal trips where you happened to vlog. The stronger your documentation of business purpose, the stronger your deduction.

Can I deduct travel to a co-working space?

Generally no. Daily travel from your home to a regular place of business is commuting, not business travel, and is not deductible. However, if you occasionally rent a studio or workspace at a different location for a specific project, that travel may be deductible as a business trip.

Are Uber and Lyft rides deductible?

Yes, when used for business purposes. Rideshares to meetings, filming locations, the airport for business travel, or between business appointments are deductible. Keep the digital receipt from the app as documentation.

Can I deduct my spouse's travel expenses if they help with my content?

Only if your spouse has a genuine business purpose for the trip (not just accompanying you), is your employee or business partner, and their expenses would otherwise be deductible. Simply having your spouse appear in a video does not make their travel expenses deductible.

Guide

Travel DeductionTax DeductionContent CreatorUSA

Travel Tax Deductions for Content Creators: What Counts and What Does Not

Travel is one of the largest potential deductions for content creators — and one of the most abused, which makes it an audit magnet. The IRS has clear rules about what qualifies as deductible business travel and what does not. Understanding these rules lets you legally deduct thousands in travel costs without risking penalties.

Last updated: February 26, 2026

Step-by-Step Guide

Establish business purpose before traveling

Document the business reason for every trip before departure. Having a content plan, meeting schedule, or conference registration shows intent.

Separate business and personal days

Plan trips so business days are grouped together. Track which days had substantial business activity and which were personal.

Save all receipts and documentation

Keep receipts for every travel expense. Note the business purpose, attendees (for meals), and the content or business outcome on each receipt.

Track expenses by category

Categorize travel expenses as transportation, lodging, meals (50% deductible), and other. This maps directly to Schedule C line items.

Allocate mixed-trip expenses properly

For trips with both business and personal days, deduct only the business portion of lodging and meals. Deduct full transportation only if the primary purpose was business.

What qualifies as deductible business travel

The IRS defines business travel as travel away from your 'tax home' (where your business is based) for a period substantially longer than an ordinary day's work, where you need to sleep or rest to meet the demands of work.

Deductible travel for content creators:
- Flying to a brand's headquarters for a sponsorship meeting or shoot
- Attending industry conferences (VidCon, Playlist Live, Creator Economy Expo, SXSW)
- Traveling to filming locations for specific content projects
- Meeting with your agent, manager, or MCN
- Traveling to collaborate with other creators on content
- Attending workshops, training, or masterclasses
- Scouting locations for future content

Deductible travel expenses:
- Airfare or train tickets (100%)
- Hotel or lodging (100% for business nights)
- Rental cars and rideshares for business purposes (100%)
- Meals during travel (50% deductible)
- Tips related to deductible services
- Baggage fees
- Internet and phone charges while traveling
- Laundry and dry cleaning during extended trips
- Conference and event registration fees

NOT deductible:
- Personal vacation days during a business trip
- Travel primarily for personal purposes with incidental business activity
- Commuting from home to a regular office (even a co-working space you use daily)
- Lavish or extravagant expenses not reasonable for your business

Mixed business and personal travel rules

Domestic travel: If the PRIMARY purpose of the trip is business, you can deduct transportation costs (flights, car rental) in full. However, you can only deduct lodging and meals for business days. Personal days are not deductible.

Example: You fly to Los Angeles for a 3-day brand event, then stay 2 extra days sightseeing.
- Airfare: 100% deductible (primary purpose was business)
- Hotel for days 1-3: 100% deductible
- Hotel for days 4-5: NOT deductible (personal)
- Meals for days 1-3: 50% deductible
- Meals for days 4-5: NOT deductible

International travel: Different rules apply. If you are outside the US for more than 7 days and more than 25% of the time is personal, you must allocate transportation costs proportionally.

Example: 10-day international trip, 6 days business, 4 days personal.
- Transportation: 60% deductible (6/10 business days)
- Lodging and meals: Only business days deductible

'Business day' definition:
A day counts as a business day if you have scheduled business activities for a substantial part of the day. Spending one hour emailing from a beach does not make it a business day. A 4-hour filming session at a planned location does.

Documentation requirements:
For every trip, document:
- Business purpose of the trip
- Dates of departure and return
- Business activities conducted each day
- Names and business relationships of people met
- Receipts for all expenses

Creator-specific travel scenarios

Scenario 1: Filming trip to a national park
Business purpose: Creating a series of nature/travel videos for your channel. Deductible if the primary purpose is content creation and you can demonstrate the business intent (video publication schedule, sponsor commitments, content plan). Document filming activities each day.

Scenario 2: VidCon attendance
100% business travel. Conference registration, flights, hotel, and meals are all deductible (meals at 50%). Networking events and after-parties count as business activities.

Scenario 3: International press trip paid by a brand
If the brand pays your travel, you do not deduct those expenses (you did not pay them). If the brand pays for some expenses and you cover others, only deduct what you paid. Report the value of brand-paid travel as income if required by the agreement.

Scenario 4: Travel vlogger documenting personal trips
This is the trickiest scenario. The IRS looks at whether the trip would have happened regardless of the content creation. If you were going to Hawaii anyway and decided to vlog, it is personal travel. If you specifically planned and executed the trip to create a Hawaii travel series for your channel, you have a stronger business purpose argument.

The key test: Would you have taken this trip if you were not a content creator? If yes, it is likely personal with incidental business activity. If no, it is more likely deductible business travel.

Disclaimer: This is general information, not tax advice. Travel deductions are heavily scrutinized by the IRS. Consult a CPA, especially for international travel and travel vlogging deductions.

Pro Tips

Book your business activities BEFORE booking personal extensions — this establishes the primary purpose as business
Keep a simple trip log noting business activities, people met, and content created each day — this is your best audit defense
Airline miles and credit card points earned from business travel are generally not taxable income
If you drive to business destinations, use the standard mileage rate (67 cents/mile for 2024) — it is simpler than tracking actual vehicle expenses for travel
Per diem rates (published by GSA at gsa.gov) can simplify meal and lodging deductions for domestic travel — but you must use them consistently