I have a Law Enforcement officer, whom is told by his fellow colleges, that there is a formula to add to your itemized deductions to account for not being able to take a lunch, which their tax person does for them every year. I am unable to find any information on this, and it sounds a little iffy to me. I know that if lunch is purchased while on duty, that it is not deductible, however, cannot find anything if you are at a facility, and in your employment bylaws, are unable to take an unpaid lunch (or any breaks because you cannot reasonable be away from your post at any time), for any sort of tax credit, deduction, etc.. on federal tax filing.

I know that if lunch is purchased while on duty, that it is not deductible, ===>Correct; The IRS allows all taxpayers to deduct some business-related expenses for entertaining business associates, customers and clients. Taxpayers may deduct entertainment expenses if they are necessary, ordinary, directly related to the business and associated with the business. Typically, police officers'meals do not fall within this category if the police officer incurred out-of-pocket meal expenses for a business-related purpose or incurred the costs during business travel, then the deduction is limited to 50 %of the meal expenses, and the taxpayer must meet the two-percent AGI limitation rule.



however, cannot find anything if you are at a facility, and in your employment bylaws, are unable to take an unpaid lunch (or any breaks because you cannot reasonable be away from your post at any time), for any sort of tax credit, deduction, etc.. on federal tax filing=====>it depends; employees may exclude from income meals provided by employers, if the meals are for the convenience of the employer. some employers provide a meal allowance for employees. This may be excluded from income if the employee could have deducted the meal had he or she paid the expense. This is called a working condition fringe benefit.
A meal allowance qualifies for the working condition exclusion only if the meal expense is an ordinary and necessary trade or business expense.
If the employer provides a free (or low cost) meal on the employer's work site, the meal value may be excluded from income if it is provided for the convenience of the employer the meal allowance was excluded from income if he was not restricted to any particular area in which he could take meals, and he could even eat at home if he desired.
The meal allowance was included in income because he had control over its use

Thank you so much for that information. The employee brings his own meal as he is not able to leave his post or the facility while on duty, and there is not an employer sponsored meal option. Is there a formula to reasonably account for this?