Deduct real business travel — combine with personal side trips at 50/50 rule.
IRC §162 permits full deduction of business travel — airfare, lodging, 50% meals, transportation. Mixed trip rules: primarily business (>50% days) → full airfare deductible, personal days' lodging non-deductible. Foreign trip <1 week OR <25% personal → 100% airfare deductible even with personal days. Weekend 'sandwich' between business days deductible if cheaper than flying home. Bring spouse: only deductible if spouse is bona fide employee/partner attending for business.
Click Generate advisory deep dive for mechanics, IRC citations, a step-by-step execution plan, a worked numeric example on your profile, costs, risks, and this-week actions.
Buy Visa gift cards → liquidate to money order/deposit → earn points at ~1% cost.
$695 fee offset by $1,600+ in credits if you actually use them — net positive.
Have status at one chain → status-match to Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond.
Complete 30 Hyatt nights/yr for Globalist — suite upgrades, breakfast, 4pm checkout worldwide.
Earn 135K qualifying points → companion flies free (just taxes) on every SW flight for ~2 yrs.
Redeem 90K–130K miles for $6K–$15K international business seats.
IRS treats points/miles earned on personal purchases as rebates — NOT taxable income.
Time Chase applications first (5/24 rule) before Amex/Cap One that don't have the restriction.