So can you deduct a flat amount of $52 per day or is that the MAX you can deduct with receipts to back them up?

I use the standard $52 per day deduction. Last thing i want is MORE paper. If you have reciepts you take a percentage of that. No, not sure how much percentage.

Truckers are being ripped off. The only thing you save is the taxes on $52 which is around $7 a day. Can you eat on that??

Go to any traveling government job and they actually get a tax free check for $52 for each day on the road. Another unfair rule that exempts us from the rest of the work force.

The deduction was actually changed after that article.
As of Sept 2009 it went to 59.00 a day. You can deduct 80% of that.
On taxes last year you were to use the old rate till Sept. Then the new rate for time after that.

The way perdiem is done for truckers is the same as it is for all business accept the government. Only difference is that we get more per day. Actually allot more. The normal perdiem for workers not subject to HOS rules is like 34 per day.

I would love to get a check for that amount. But it will never happen.
I think you are off on that calculation though Condo. Otherwise every tax person in the country would tell drivers to take company paid perdiem, and to beg to get it.
What it does is lower your tax liability by about 30% of what perdiem you are claiming for the year. Once all the crap comes out of the wash on tax forms.

I personally would rather have Fair Tax.
They can keep the freakin tax forms then. And I would never have to hear the words IRS again.

It is just like any other deduction though. Same as fuel, truck payments, tolls etc. for an owner OP.
It is not a dollar for dollar deduction. Though for some reason a lease payment is. I do not really get that one.

Sorry Chromedome, but I think if you take the standard deduction, the $59 per day is what you deduct. It's 80% of the actual reciepts.

Also remember that a few years ago this got cut to less that 50% of actual cost. Thankfully that got fixed.

Yes thankfully that was fixed.

Originally Posted by sevenmph

What is the irs form this is claimed on other than 1040? Is it form 2106?

Depends on the return.

Self employed owner operator, leased driver on Sch C.

Employee, form 2106 through Schedule A, Misc Deduction.