Bipartisan Newhouse bill permits tax-deductible meals for commercial seafood workers

Pacific Northwest offshore seafood workers should reap tax benefits for employer-provided meals on commercial fishing boats or at specific fish processing facilities, says U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA).

“The men and women in this industry are the front-line workers in our seafood supply chain,” Rep. Newhouse said. “This legislation will promote greater access to employee meal services in remote areas, enhancing their ability to compete with other maritime actors.”

Rep. Newhouse on Nov. 8 signed on as the lead original cosponsor of the bipartisan Remote Seafood Employee Meals Tax Parity Act, H.R. 6295, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA).

If enacted, H.R. 6295 would state that the 50-percent limitation on the deduction for meal expenses does not apply to meals provided on certain fishing boats or at certain fish processing facilities, according to the bill’s text.

Specifically, H.R. 6295 would allow the cost of employer-provided meals served on commercial fish processing vessels and at remote fish processing facilities to be fully deductible by reversing a 2017 tax law that cut the deductions for employer-provided meals to 50 percent with the intention to eliminate the deduction by 2025, according to a bill summary provided by the congressman’s staff.

“The reduced deductions we have seen in recent years have not only hurt the seafood industry and its workers but could seriously interrupt the workforce pipeline if it is eliminated as planned in 2025,” said Rep. Newhouse. “It is vital we protect an industry that significantly contributes to our economy and communities.”

The Pacific Seafood Processors Association supports the legislation, which has been referred to the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee for consideration.