Can I Claim Business Meals and Hospitality as a Business Expense in Egypt?
Sometimes. Meals with a clear business purpose may be accepted; your accountant decides.
Finn does your books in Egypt
AccountsOS keeps the books for Egypt businesses, tracks tax deadlines and handles expenses, in plain English. Ask Finn about yours, no signup needed.
What Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA) says
A meal relates to the business only when it has a business purpose, such as a client meeting. Restaurant bills may carry VAT at 14% for licensed tourist restaurants. Finn records the cost and flags it for review. A meal that is part of a documented business trip or a client meeting has a clear business link. Regular meals for the owner do not, even when paid from the company account. Under the simplified regime, tax is worked out on turnover, so the deductibility question does not change the tax, but the cost still has to be real and recorded in the books.
When you can claim
- A meal with a client to discuss a contract
- Refreshments for a business meeting
- Meals during a documented business trip
- Hosting a client visit at the company's premises
- Water and refreshments for staff at the office, if your accountant agrees
- Coffee and refreshments when meeting a supplier
When you cannot claim
- Personal or family meals
- Meals with no business purpose
- Staff parties presented as client meals
- Meals on days with no business activity
- Gifts to friends presented as client hospitality
Good to know
Pro tip: Note who attended and why on the receipt. Book client meals to their own category, not to travel or office costs, so they are easy to review at year end.
Important: Hospitality is a common audit question. Keep the evidence. Finn records each meal and flags it for your accountant rather than deciding the treatment itself. If you treat a meal as a business cost, keep a note of the client and the business discussed. It is the first thing your accountant will ask for in a review.
Related expenses
Stop guessing what you can claim in Egypt
AccountsOS automatically categorises expenses with Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA)-aware rules and tells you exactly what is claimable.
Try Free