News flash: Aruba is now part of North America … as far as meetings are concerned, that is.

As of September 13, Aruba is considered part of the “North American area” for purposes of determining if U.S. taxpayers may deduct expenses incurred as a result of attending conventions, business meetings, and seminars there. The U.S.-Aruba Tax Information Exchange Agreement affords Aruba the same tax status in relation to meetings as Canada, Mexico, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and Trinidad & Tobago. Meetings held in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are tax-deductible because of the islands' U.S. status.

Only meeting expenses that are incurred for meetings in areas designated as part of the North American area are deductible as ordinary and necessary business expenses, unencumbered by the limitations to deductions for expenses associated with foreign conventions.