I'm a local driver, what tax deductions am i missing???

Discussion in 'Trucker Taxes and Truck Financing' started by truckerdave1970, Jan 24, 2011.

  1. Skunk_Truck_2590

    Skunk_Truck_2590 Road Train Member

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    Stonewall, LA.
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    From what I have been told by a tax agent you can not claim food. What kind of work are you doing? We have to have safety gear such as hard hat, safety vest and safety glasses. If you buy your own rather than taking what the company has provided you can claim such items as those. There's not much you can claim being local though. Clip board can be deducted as well for log book and paper work because it is work related. I am itemizing for 2010 because I was OTR most of the year. I started local a week and a half before the new year so that W-2 will not be included on tax deductions.
     
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  3. Skunk_Truck_2590

    Skunk_Truck_2590 Road Train Member

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    Stonewall, LA.
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    Cell phones can be deducted ONLY if you are on a billed contract and only calls to and from the company can be deducted. All others will be on you. Prepaid phones like I have which is a AT&T Go Phone can not be deducted because no proof of personal and business calls. I have it because it's cheaper and works well with my budget at $60 a month for unlimited talk and text sense most of our drivers have the same thing and we comunicate by phone while at work.
     
  4. CondoCruiser

    CondoCruiser The Legend

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    Move to Straight Talk, available online or at Walmart. You can keep the same number. They have the same coverage as Verizon and unlimited calls, text and web for $45 month.

    Yeah Roadmedic, I kept good records last year and thought I had a bunch to itemize. I fell short by a couple hundred and took the standard. The year before I itemized because I moved and that put me over the top.
     
  5. Rug_Trucker

    Rug_Trucker Road Train Member

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    Are you sure? Where is the proof? You never call a shipper? The IRS isn't that picky. 30%

    30% of my internet on the lap top. I get maps, weather, check my payroll, take required classes, and take email from the company.

    I have a computer and DSL at home.
     
  6. sammycat

    sammycat "Oldest Hijackerette"

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    Unless you can itemize-Like Condo said-which is darn near impossible now a days with the Standard deduction going up each year (to basically eliminate it)
    You need to have alot of OTHER things to reach the threshhold where you can itemize (interest on a house, taxes, medical bills etc) I haven't been able to itemize in about 5 years now.
     
  7. Skunk_Truck_2590

    Skunk_Truck_2590 Road Train Member

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    Stonewall, LA.
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    I see what your saying. Something that slip by me, you can claim a phone of any type when OTR but no local and is not bussiness related. Not sure how the IRS is where you are but at my local IRS office they account for every penny making them indeed extreamly picky. Those few pennies for one person can add up big in thier pocket book with the addtion of many people with a few missed or owed pennies.
     
  8. sammycat

    sammycat "Oldest Hijackerette"

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    The IRS isn't that picky?

    really? ask someone who has been audited and does not have ALL the paperwork .....

    I still say that soon everyone will pretty much have to take the standard deduction becuz people have complained how hard taxes are to do and the govt is 'trying' to make it easier on us......
     
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  9. ChromeDome

    ChromeDome Road Train Member

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    I have never had an issue with claiming half of my cell bill. I could prove to them easy that more than half of my talking is done for work.
    My internet in the truck I do not use at home at all. But I use it part of the time for things like this. So I claim 40% on that.
    There was talk of making a standard deduction for cell phones. I cannot remember if it ever got passed though. Was supposed to be in one of those stimulus bills, and was like 70 bucks a month.
    Actually my tax guy thinks I should claim a higher percentage of my phone for work. Since he has seen my bills. I keep it low to stay safe though.
     
  10. rocknsand

    rocknsand Medium Load Member

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    My company provides a cell phone for our use, no I'm not going to show 30% of the cost as income. But we do need it to do our job.
     
  11. papo stealth

    papo stealth Bobtail Member

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    Sep 26, 2010
    Sherrills Ford, NC
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    "The IRS isn't that picky" Really??? You can claim 1% of your cell phone or 100%. You can claim anything you want, you only have to prove it in an audit.

    "Good luck and good night"
     
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