Tax Deductions
 

Hi all, I've searched and can't find an answer to my question.

My tax guy is asking for the amount of days I was away from home. The locations I was in on those dates and what time I came in and when I left. Other then making a photocopy of my log book and sending it to him is there another way around this?

I also understand that safety related items are deductable but what about items that I did not have at the time when I moved into my truck. I purchased a cooler, tools and a ladder since I pulled a skateboard.... I remember seeing a list somewhere but can't seem to locate it.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Paul

I always just counted the days I was gone and wrote it on the front of the logbook. Then at tax time I just added them up and told the tax person how many. There aren't too many things that aren't deductable. Tools, clothes, cell phone that sort of stuff. I just save the reciept and if i have any questions I ask. DSo a search here for tax deductions. There was a thread not too long ago.

Only overnights are eligible for the deduction. If you left the house, or arrived at home, you cannot count those days. It sounds as if your tax guy is making it more complex than it needs to be. He also missed the April 15th filing date. :wink:

As far as deductible items, if it is something used for the job, or is truck specific, then there is a very good chance it is deductible. If it is something that is used outside of the truck, then it may be deductible.

Close enough. You have to be away long enough to have a "necessary" sleeper break. Since a sleeper break would only become "necessary" if you exhausted your 11 or 14 hours, and you add in the 10 hour sleeper break, you are at anywhere from 21-24 hours (ie. OVERNIGHT). :wink:

IF he is asking for locations, dates and times, he is using the wrong deductions for per diem. What he is using is known as CONUS rates, Those numbers are not used for people subject to HOS!

For a day, under the tax code for those subject to HOS to count, you must have had to take the mandated break required by HOS! Just leaving the house, taking a 2 hour lunch break and coming home does not count!

I posted the links to the code a couple of weeks back under a related per diem thread!

http://www.irs.gov/publications/p463/ch01.html#d0e820

Special rate for transportation workers. You can use a special standard meal allowance if you work in the transportation industry. You are in the transportation industry if your work:

*

Directly involves moving people or goods by airplane, barge, bus, ship, train, or truck, and
*

Regularly requires you to travel away from home and, during any single trip, usually involves travel to areas eligible for different standard meal allowance rates.

If this applies to you, you can claim a standard meal allowance of $52 a day ($58 for travel outside the continental United States) from January 1, 2007, through December 31, 2007.

Using the special rate for transportation workers eliminates the need for you to determine the standard meal allowance for every area where you stop for sleep or rest. If you choose to use the special rate for any trip, you must use the special rate (and not use the regular standard meal allowance rates) for all trips you take that year.

Travel for days you depart and return. For both the day you depart for and the day you return from a business trip, you must prorate the standard meal allowance (figure a reduced amount for each day). You can do so by one of two methods.

*

Method 1: You can claim ¾ of the standard meal allowance.
*

Method 2: You can prorate using any method that you consistently apply and that is in accordance with reasonable business practice.

http://www.irs.gov/publications/p463/ch06.html#d0e7803

Hours of service limits. If you are subject to the Department of Transportation's “hours of service” limits (as explained earlier under Individuals subject to “hours of service” limits in chapter 2), use 75% instead of 50% for meals while away from your tax home.

Guy's thanks so much for the info...

Like I said previously I searched and searched.... Country Horseman I'll read the Per Deim thread.

I've copied the info that applied to HOS and will fax to the tax guy, so he can finish it up. This the best part of the CAD ya get the info.... :D

Thanks all...

No real need to read the Per Diem thread, the same notes I posted here were the ones I was referring too! Had to dig them up anyway, for my tax preparer! he lost the notes from last year! :cry: