Snack/Meal Tax Question

[Sparkles]

I'm not on the food program, so I get to write off every meal/snack on taxes.

Let's say I'm expecting X number of kids for snack, so I make enough for them, but then have none of them show up for snack. Can I still write those snacks off on taxes?

[GirlMomma]

I write mine off, if it’s fully prepared you can’t save it for later.

[Cat Herder]

No, not legally. They have to be served and match up with your attendance in an audit.

You can send missed meals/snacks home with parents, then claim them. I send home meals with kids a lot. Especially church and game nights.

The food program oversight person here is now trying to say the kids must have been in attendance at the time the meal was served to the group to count. It seems their plan is to *keep the federal money*, but the federal guidelines say no such thing. They just want the kid to have access to the food allotted for them each day. That is the goal of the summer meals program, as well. They send the food home with the kid and are reimbursed.

I have one who leaves before dinner three nights per week, but whose food sensory issues and allergies make it difficult for his parents with three other kids to feed. They are grateful for take home dinners he will eat Monday - Friday.

[GirlMomma]

Ahh! I didn’t know that! Thank you, I’ll start sending the extras home!!

[flying_babyb]

No, not legally. They have to be served and match up with your attendance in an audit.

You can send missed meals/snacks home with parents, then claim them. I send home meals with kids a lot. Especially church and game nights.
.

I worked at a early head start center for awhile, thats what we did too! If the child left before dinner (we didnt do a pm snack, it was breakfast, lunch and dinner) we would send them with a to go plate.

[tomcopeland]

You can deduct meals and snacks even you can't get reimbursed for them by the Food Program.

[Snowmom]

This brings up an interest point:
Technically, if you follow the "actual" food expenses versus the "meal counts" method when applying business food expenses, I wouldn't think it would matter if they were there or not.

[Sparkles]

This is a good point! There's been times that I have a plate made, and the child either didn't eat any of it or didn't show up. So, it goes in the trash or scraps for our animals. I'd like to write it off so it's not a waste of money.

[Alwaysgreener]

Okay so if the child is in attendance and did not eat, then it counts as offered and you can claim it.

I have a school ager that will throw a tantrum at the table and not eat but I offered it so I get to claim per food program.

But if the plate is filled but they don't arrive, then I offer the food to the others or eat it myself or add it to the leftovers because there is nothing wrong with
it. But you can't claim because they were not in attendance.


However, a cracker is considered a snack and you can claim it on your taxes, per Tom Copeland.