Confusion remains over meal tax allowance

[Cybergal]

Confusion remains over meal tax allowance
1/28/08

OTTAWA -- While the trucking industry managed to convince the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) just before tax time last year that trucker’s meals shouldn’t be subject to a 50 percent clawback, some confusion remains about who is eligible to use the simplified method in making their meal claims.

Last year, the Canadian Trucking Alliance, OBAC, and the Teamsters, with support from this magazine, launched the Lunch-bag Let-down Campaign, which inspired the mailing of nearly 5,000 postcards to Finance Minsiter Jim Flaherty, urging him to increase the allowable proportion of meal costs drivers can expense on their personal or small business tax forms.
Ottawa then agreed to incrementally restore the allowable proportion of meal costs drivers can expense to 80 percent from the 50 between 2007 and 2010.
So with one tax term behind us, and this year's tax deadline approaching, it's important to note that some owner-ops around the country reported their TL2 claims for 2006 were being disallowed by CRA, while others seemed to be getting away with it. The distinction remains -- as it has always been, technically -- that the TL2 simplified method is available only to employees, not self-employed individuals. Todaystrucking>>>>>>