What expense category is Tam Airlines?
TAM Airlines, now operating as LATAM Airlines Brasil, is the largest airline in Brazil and part of the LATAM Airlines Group, providing domestic and international passenger and cargo air travel across Latin America and beyond.
Originally founded as TAM Linhas Aéreas, TAM merged with Chile's LAN Airlines in 2012 to form LATAM Airlines Group — the largest airline group in Latin America by fleet size and destinations. LATAM Airlines Brasil operates from hubs in São Paulo, Brasília, and Fortaleza, serving 137+ passenger destinations in 24 countries and cargo to 144 destinations in 29 countries with a fleet of ~315 aircraft. For businesses, TAM/LATAM charges represent airfare for employee travel, typically related to Latin American business operations, client visits, or international conferences. The platform uses per-transaction pricing with fares varying by route, class, and timing. Despite being categorized under 'Event expenses,' TAM charges are business travel expenses, not entertainment.
How businesses classify Tam Airlines
Tax details
- TAM/LATAM Airlines airfare for business travel is 100% deductible — document the employee's name, travel destination, and specific business purpose for each flight.
- Reclassify TAM Airlines charges from 'Event expenses' to 'Travel — Airfare' in your chart of accounts; airfare is never an entertainment expense under U.S. tax rules.
- For international flights, retain boarding passes and itinerary confirmations as the IRS may request documentation for foreign travel deductions.
- If an employee mixes personal and business travel on a Latin American trip, only the business-portion days and directly attributable costs are deductible — prorate accordingly.
- Foreign-currency airfare charges may result in exchange rate differences at settlement — record the USD equivalent at the transaction date for accurate books.
Business insights
Related expenses
For illustrative purposes only. Results shown are estimates and not guarantees. Based on internal metrics. Past performance does not guarantee future results, which may vary.