Forced Per Diem... Theft? - Page 4 - Truckers' Trucking Forum

photolurp2 · **^ Top** #31 09.07.2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by danc694u

Wasn't being rude, was mearly making a comment... Sorry but text and typing doesn't allow for voice inflection and facial expressions.

I don't live on 31k, I was using it only for an example. My YTD actually reflects less than 25k...much less. I took 2 months earlier this year, to find a job.

But I have no debt

Insurance, utilities, and property taxes average about $350 a month. The rest is gravy. Yes, I live in America

Life gets MUCH better/easier when you get to zero on your debt levels.

Just to toot my own horn. I can actually get by on less than $300 a week....even if my wife doesn't work.

I won't be going out, won't be saving anything. But I will be getting by. OH yeh, almost forgot...I'm one of those kook jobs you read about. I have about a years supply of food, stock piled. Just in case.

I cannot wait to be in your situation. Do you mind me asking how you got there? I love your idea about food, I am also working toward that goal. Is your food supply composed of only legumes and rice type stuff?

photolurp2 · **^ Top** #32 09.07.2009

I am certainly no expert on this, but I think you can do your own per-diem. I think you can get your full pay and then deduct about $40 or so a day you are away from home. No need to let the company steal your money. Let me know if I am wrong.

Sad_Panda · **^ Top** #33 09.07.2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by danc694u

Every laptop I own has been on a truck. And they all have PC*Miler, Delorme w/GPS, and Rand McNally software on them.

Of course, they don't stay ON the truck 100% of the time. But they are used.

Now if I could just figure out how to write the cost of that tower off.

Simple driver, simple. Home office, and while you are at it, deduct up to 25% of your square footage as home office space, and 25% of housing costs.

danc694u · **^ Top** #34 09.07.2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by photolurp2

I cannot wait to be in your situation. Do you mind me asking how you got there?

Doing without a lot of things. Like cable TV, nights out, new toys, new cars, etc

You'd be surprised how fast you can pay things off. So long as you focus on one thing at a time, instead of the shotgun method.

Quote:

Originally Posted by photolurp2

I love your idea about food, I am also working toward that goal. Is your food supply composed of only legumes and rice type stuff?

No, my food supply runs the entire spectrum. Unlike a lot of people, I don't buy into the rotate annually BS. Although it does get rotated.

I have a vast variety of canned vegetables, corn meal, flour, dry beans, dry peas, rice, oatmeal, noodles, powdered milk, coffee, sugar, salt, Lard, and various dried/canned meats.

A 2 season supply of hybrid seed. 16 varieties of vegetables.

Along with water purification tablets/filters...lots of them.

That kind of skims the surface. There's enough to hold me and the wife for a year easily. We could accommodate the entire family or a few neighbors for about 3 months.

greaterbaatezu · **^ Top** #35 09.08.2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hardlyevr

What the real deal on the per diem pay is that it is a tax savings to the company when they use it. It is also a tax savings to you if done correctly. The $42 a day you should be receiving is tax free, but then you cannot later claim it as a deduction when you file. The advantage for the company is that they do NOT have to pay the matching taxes for Social Security, etc., on that $42. So any savings to them, times the number of drivers, is a ton of money.

The real deal is: the company gets the $42/day write off for every day that you're out from home. (lets base everything on top pay at marten, which is $0.43/mile. You get $0.14 per mile tax free, and another $0.256/mile reportable to the IRS. You do NOT get relief from child support, spousal support, or anything else because of per diem. So, not only are they ripping you off $.025/ mile right off the top, they're stealing your $42/day write off at the end of the year. They get the deduction for the days you're out. You only get the deduction (and then only part of it) for the days you actually run. Any restart, or detention, or layover, you get none of it because you're not turning paid miles.

Then they lie to you and tell you how it's so great for you, and refuse to answer any question with a direct answer. It's all ambiguous statements and smokescreens.

Hardlyevr · **^ Top** #36 09.09.2009

I run percentage, so I can't tell you about the per mile nonsense you have to deal with. But how ever many days you are actually out on the road is what you are entitled to, and if you are not getting that, then you can deduct the difference when you do your taxes. Yes, per diem lowers your reported taxable gross, so it does lower social security wages, and wages for a credit approval. But it does lower your taxes, and possibly the tax bracket that you would be in. I would much rather keep MY money today, than qualify for more from social security if it still exists when the government says I can get it.

Markk9 · **^ Top** #37 09.13.2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by greaterbaatezu

The real deal is: the company gets the $42/day write off for every day that you're out from home. (lets base everything on top pay at marten, which is $0.43/mile. You get $0.14 per mile tax free, and another $0.256/mile reportable to the IRS. You do NOT get relief from child support, spousal support, or anything else because of per diem.

That .14 a mile can not be used in calculating your child support, spousal support or anything else.

Mark

greaterbaatezu · **^ Top** #38 09.15.2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Markk9

That .14 a mile can not be used in calculating your child support, spousal support or anything else.

Mark

WRONG. Wisconsin uses your reported w-2 wages. The Gross. Period. Marten will not keep the perdiem amount off of your w-2, they HAVE to report it.

There is NO, I repeat, NO benefit AT ALL to perdiem. Nothing good comes to you in the long run.

greaterbaatezu · **^ Top** #39 09.15.2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hardlyevr

I run percentage, so I can't tell you about the per mile nonsense you have to deal with. But how ever many days you are actually out on the road is what you are entitled to, and if you are not getting that, then you can deduct the difference when you do your taxes. Yes, per diem lowers your reported taxable gross, so it does lower social security wages, and wages for a credit approval. But it does lower your taxes, and possibly the tax bracket that you would be in. I would much rather keep MY money today, than qualify for more from social security if it still exists when the government says I can get it.

I was told by my CPA that "claiming the difference" is tax fraud.

Roadmedic · **^ Top** #40 09.15.2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by greaterbaatezu

I was told by my CPA that "claiming the difference" is tax fraud.

Not very bright is he?

You are entitled to 52.00 per day per diem. If the company only has a plan for 30.00 per day. You get the difference.

If the CPA disagrees, better get a new one.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Trucker Forum	Replies	Last Post
Per Diem is Great...	DirtyDawgJake	Questions From New Drivers	143	12.30.2009 10.12 PM
Tax question from new driver	Roadsong66	Trucker Taxes	39	11.07.2009 05.51 AM
Per Diem??	JimF	Questions From New Drivers	6	05.25.2008 07.56 PM
Cargo theft will get national attention with summit	Cybergal	Truckers News	0	02.12.2008 08.35 AM

Truckers' Trucking Forum/Message Board - The Premiere Truck Driver Forum

The Following User Says Thank You to greaterbaatezu For This Useful Post:
RockyWI (09.15.2009)

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Roadmedic For This Useful Post:
Bigray (09.15.2009), roadkill439342 (09.20.2009)

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)