Tax deductions for company drivers

Discussion in 'Trucker Taxes and Truck Financing' started by sierrawayfarer, Mar 7, 2010.

  1. sierrawayfarer

    sierrawayfarer Bobtail Member

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    As far as company drivers go, what sorts of expenses can be deducted from your taxes and what do you have to do to document these.
     
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  3. Coonass

    Coonass "Freshy Fresh"

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    As a company driver you can take per diem which is $52 per day for
    everyday on the road in which you must take a mandatory 10hr break.

    At the end of the year you multiply the amount of days you were on the
    road requiring a break by 52 and I believe you get 80% of that amount.

    Now if your company gives you per diem on your paycheck I don't think
    you are allowed to take this but I could be wrong.
     
  4. soon2betrucking

    soon2betrucking Road Train Member

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    their are plenty of threads on here about that... sure RoadMedic will chime in
     
  5. striker

    striker Road Train Member

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    the per diem changed in '09. From Jan. 1 til Sept. 30th it was $52.00 per day, Oct. 1st til Jan. 31st it was $59.00 per day.

    Typical deductions, and these just scratch the surface:
    meals
    showers
    cleaning supplies for the truck
    cb
    cell phone (reasonable amount, but this is a very grey area as you can only deduct actual calls to customers or the office)
    uniforms
    motor carriers atlas (or if you have a gps and upgrade your maps you can deduct the cost of the map update)
     
    cavemann, Everett and jtrnr1951 Thank this.
  6. ghar

    ghar Bobtail Member

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    Mar 9, 2010
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    good info. Thanks
     
  7. mattbnr

    mattbnr Road Train Member

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    Is there a site that tells exactly what we can deduct? ive been keeping all my receipts for food purchases and what not. Im just wondering if its easier to do the standard deduction or itemize since by the end of the year i will have hundreds if not thousands of receipts. I know the deductions are different for owner operators then a company driver. i am a company driver im just wondering what all i should keep receipts for.
     
  8. musicmaker

    musicmaker Medium Load Member

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    Fort Madison, IA
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    There is really no need to keep your meal receipts unless you will be going over the $59 per day allowance. I do keep receipts on everything else. I do a lot of permit loads so deduct internet charges, printer, paper, etc. as well
     
  9. L.B.

    L.B. Third Generation Truck Driver

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    It doesn't matter if you kept the receipts or not. You are allowed the $59/day wether you go over it or not. Now if you take the company per diem rate and do the math and it comes short of the $59/day you can still claim the remainder.
     
  10. Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

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    Wrong.

    You can choose to take the higher amount if you wish. They set this up for the ease of the record keeping.

    If you spend more than 59.00 a day, which would be difficult, you could take the higher cost.
     
  11. mattbnr

    mattbnr Road Train Member

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    now is the per diem only for food? i only spend like 10 bucks a day eating out. i usually go to wal mart once a week and stock up on food.
     
    cavemann Thanks this.
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