I just can't sit on my hands.......
A trip to the WCAF is a legitimate business expense - so airfare is a tax deductible (and miles earning) expense.
As a miles junkie, I just do not understand using miles to pay for a domestic business flight which is tax deductible and not saving them to use for a vacation (which usually is not) - especially with the low cost options for flights to Las Vegas. Using airline miles or points for domestic travel is a really poor return.
I understand your comments and Rob, i would normally agree with you.
Concerning miles:
First, Janet has problems with sitting for more than an hour at a time, and she ends up getting bladder infections when she sits too long. This has occurred on our last two international trips. Because of her allergies she has had significant problems with all of the medicines we have tried to use overseas.
We now found an antibiotic that she can use, but it can only be given in the ER (approximately 6 hours each time for an IV treatment) and she has to be there for three days in a row. This is a very heavy drug with lots of risk. Consequently, I suspect we will not be doing any more international trips.
I have more than 600,000 miles right now, so I will probably use miles...however I will still check out the flight costs when I see the schedule.
Concerning business expenses.
Yes, WCAF and related expenses are business expenses and deductable, with meals at 50%, but it still deductable.
However at a 25% federal tax rate, Colorado at 4.9% and Medicare taxes, SS taxes, etc, some deductable, so it adds up to approx 33%. This affects my cash flow. For example, say my expenses are $1,000. If I did not spend the $1,000 I would have to pay approximately $333 more in taxes (assuming the 33% is correct) but I would also have $667 more in cash for either additional investment to put back into my business or as income Janet and I can use for something else.