It doesn't have to be out of state just overnight. California is about 800 miles from end to end and at 55 mph you can't make it out in 11 hours of drive time.

 

Cool! I often sleep in my truck at my agency which is 30 min from my house when I have to load the next day, and I pick my labor up AT my agent.

I quit bobtailing home for 6 hrs on my own bed, rather, Walmart Futon lol

 

I was on Per Diem 11 months in '06 and when it came to tax time I got more back then when I wasn't on it at all in '05.

 

Who did your taxes?

 

I went the the people that have a green box for a logo. They been doing it for a while with me and my dad has been with them a while as well when he was trucking.

I didn't earn enough or spend enough to itemize my deductions.

 

This is per H&R Block Tax Cut(the ones with the green box):

The general rule is that the deduction for meals and entertainment expenses is limited to 50% of the actual cost. There are two broad exceptions to this rule.

If you are a worker subject to the Department of Transportation ("DOT") hours of service limitations (pilots, truck drivers, railroad workers, etc.), you can claim a 75% deduction for your meals. This deduction will increase to 80% by the year 2008.

 

There's also this, but I think it applies to the employer giving you the per diem

The second broad exception includes meals and entertainment expenditures that are 100% deductible. Here are some examples:

You reimburse an employee or self-employed taxpayer for meals and/or entertainment expenses after an adequate accounting has been made to you.

The cost of the meal and/or entertainment you provide is treated as taxable compensation to the recipient.

 

Don't rain on their parade - they think they get the whole $52. :lol:

 

after figuring it out. that sounds about right. i believe the government says $10 for Bkfst, 15 for lunch and 15 for dinner, which works out to be $40 a day which is approximantly 75% of $52. Hmmm.....funny how that works out.... :lol: :lol: :lol: