Quote:
Originally Posted by 1TruckDrivinSunUvAGun
I do have a trucking accountant, like I said if you get a per diem you get to claim the essentials for doing your job, cell phones are done anymore. You can't go writing off everything in the world as a company driver with a per diem, if you do get audited have fun explaining all your expenses. My friend over at Knight Transportation was just audited and was told he couldn't write off meals, phone, hotels, scales, tolls, logs, boots, etc. They told him only what was required by the company and wasn't provided could be written off, since he chose their per diem option. You can write off anything but justifying it in case of an audit is another thing. Not calling you a liar just going by what I was told.
Wow. Seriously, this is completely and utterly wrong. Meals are deductible (the last round of changes in 2008, it went to $52 per day at 80%), as well as hotels, scales, tolls, supplies, work-specific clothing, communications, etc. The only thing that company-paid per diem does is add untaxed revenue to your income. You still take the deductions the same way you would if you weren't receiving the per diem.
See IRS publication 463 for more information on the meal allowance, as well as what items are deductible when traveling away from home.
Whoever told you this stuff doesn't have a clue what they are talking about.