Tax deductions for company drivers

Isnt it DOT Regs that a driver submit original log and retain a copy for himself for inspection...what did you do with them?

 

You have asked an interesting question concerning the electronic logs.

I believe they should have sent copies to you through the year if you had requested them. At this point, you are out of luck.

As a suggestion as to what to do, I would recommend a reconstruction for the year. You know when you were home and the balance would be on the road. The amount of the per diem would not be massive and not a problem on an audit if it would happen.

 

I have an odd question. Just went from an over the road driver after 4 years to a local grain hauler. Half the time we run in the 100 mile radius, but the other half we run outside of it and have to log it. Most of the time we are home every night, but sometimes we are not. Can I claim the 59/day on any of it? I was told that I can only claim the days we are out and have to follow HOS and fill out a log book.

 

I'm a company driver I drive 60 miles per day to get my truck. Can I deduct my mileage from my personal car to get to my truck? Also I run under 100 miles a day, but the company requires me to run a log book. Would I get the meal perdeum?,

thanks in advance,

 

The company I run for emails them to me on request, usually once a week. Or if I get pulled for inspection, then they send them ASAP.

 

short answer is no. You can't deduct the commute to and from work (unless you use your vehicle as part of your job and are unreimbursed for mileage) and since you don't spend the night away from home you don't qualify for the per diem deduction.

 

Employers are required to maintain driver logs and all supporting documents for a period of 6 months from the date of receipt. You are required to have the prior 7 days.

If you use Per Diem, keep your logs, or if on E-Logs - get a copy of them for your records.

 

This is true but his question about per diem involves more than just the fact he runs a log book. If he shows starting and ending his shift at his home location every day it doesn't qualify for per diem. Per diem is designed to compensate for the added expense caused by being away from home. Hence local drivers do not qualify if you are home every night. Or day if you run nights.