Can You Deduct a Business Expense Without a Receipt?

Lost a business receipt? Does that automatically mean you lose the deduction? Not necessarily. I'm Lauren, Enrolled Agent and founder of Zero Fluff Books. Before that, I worked as an IRS Revenue Agent, reviewing the same types of documentation business owners may need to support their expenses. In this video, we break down the difference between deductibility and substantiation, and what actually matters when a receipt is missing. You'll learn: Why a missing receipt doesn't automatically disqualify a deduction What records can help support a business expense Why a bank or credit card statement may not be enough by itself What the IRS needs to establish the amount, date, payee, and business purpose Why travel, meals, and vehicle expenses have stricter documentation rules How to reconstruct missing expense records honestly What business owners should keep going forward Why you shouldn't guess when rebuilding missing records The key question isn't simply “Do I have the receipt?” It's whether you can establish what you bought, when you bought it, from whom, and why it was for your business using the records you actually have. 💬 Have a business documentation question you'd like Lauren to cover? Drop it in the comments. Subscribe for more straightforward answers about federal taxes, bookkeeping, IRS issues, and small-business compliance. #BusinessExpenses #TaxDeductions #SmallBusinessTaxes #IRS #Bookkeeping #taxtips