You can still claim the deduction. The IRS wants proof the expense happened and was business-related. Receipts are the easiest proof, but they’re not the only kind.

Bank and credit card statements show the transaction happened. They show the vendor, date, and amount. What they don’t show is what you bought. A $127 charge at Staples could be office supplies or could be your kid’s school supplies. You need to be able to explain what it was if asked.

The IRS requires receipts for expenses over $75 and for all lodging expenses regardless of amount. Below $75, other documentation is acceptable. That doesn’t mean you can claim random deductions without support. It means the documentation standard is slightly lower for small purchases.

If you’re audited without receipts, you’ll need to reconstruct what you can. Statements, invoices, emails confirming orders, calendar entries showing business purpose. The IRS can disallow deductions they don’t find credible, but they don’t automatically reject everything without a paper receipt.

Going forward, use an app that captures receipts digitally or dedicate a business card to business expenses so the statement itself tells the story. The best time to organize documentation is when the expense happens, not two years later when you’re trying to remember what a charge was for.