06/13/2026
Real talk: your bank statement is not documentation.
The transaction is right there - the date, the amount, the restaurant. But the IRS doesn't just want to know that you spent money. They want to know why. Who were you with? What did you discuss?
A receipt plus a quick note = documentation that holds up. A bank statement alone = a gap you don't want to explain later.
It doesn't have to be complicated. A note in your phone right after the meal is all it takes. Capture the purpose while it's fresh instead of scrambling to remember at tax time.
Save the receipts. Future you will be grateful. đź’›
(Pro tip: receipt-scanning apps like Expensify or Wave make this even easier. Drop a recommendation in the comments if you have a favorite!)