Company refuses to sign a T2200 form

Discussion in 'Report A BAD Trucking Company Here' started by kuelaine89, Nov 23, 2021.

  1. kuelaine89

    kuelaine89 Bobtail Member

    8
    2
    Nov 23, 2021
    0
    Hi, I am a newbie (long haul, cross-border). My company calls my cell phone all the time and I often use the ArriveCan app, yet, they refuse to provide a signed T2200 form so I can claim my expense when filing my tax return. I know it is reasonable to claim such expense as I use my phone solely to earn money. Can anyone please advise? Thanks.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. ZVar

    ZVar Road Train Member

    10,911
    23,805
    Sep 10, 2010
    Flint, MI
    0
    Employees can't deduct business expenses any longer, so it's really a moot point
     
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2021
  4. Lonesome

    Lonesome Mr. Sarcasm

    10,192
    19,922
    Dec 15, 2007
    Northern Indiana
    0
    Quit answering your phone when they call....
     
  5. kuelaine89

    kuelaine89 Bobtail Member

    8
    2
    Nov 23, 2021
    0
    But I read this:
    Employed Individuals
    "Generally, an employee may be able to deduct certain expenses paid for employment if they had to pay for the expenses under their contract of employment and they obtain a completed and signed Form T2200, Declaration of Conditions of Employment, from their employer. In particular, an employee may be able to deduct a part of a basic cell phone service plan "
    CRA Info on Tax Treatment of Cell Phones - Ontario Trucking Association

    I am not asking for allowance/reimbursement so I wonder why my company will refuse :-(
     
  6. bryan21384

    bryan21384 Road Train Member

    12,607
    25,909
    Sep 18, 2009
    Memphis, TN
    0
    That language points more to an independent contractor. I don't know if a cell phone is considered an expense under a contract of employment seeing how most likely you use it for personal use. If it were me, I would not worry about it, especially if the cell phone is the only deduction you're after.
     
    kuelaine89 and gentleroger Thank this.
  7. gentleroger

    gentleroger Road Train Member

    6,621
    17,288
    Jun 1, 2010
    0
    The question is how much (by percentage) is your cell phone used for personal use and how much is used for communicating with your company?

    A very quick perusal of the Canadian rules makes me think it needs to be over 20% business to be eligible, not to mention worthwhile of your time and effort.

    I also wonder if signing this form might confuse your employment relationship with your carrier - I think if you are an IC, signing that form would indicate you are an employee and open them up to a whole can of problems.

    Talk to a cpa, and they can get you sorted, but for a $300 deduction I wouldn't worry about it.
     
    Lonesome and kuelaine89 Thank this.
  8. kuelaine89

    kuelaine89 Bobtail Member

    8
    2
    Nov 23, 2021
    0
    Thanks for your advice.
    To begin with, I bought a dual sim phone for solely work use, i.e. separate 100% from my personal use. One slot is for Canadian communication with my company and the other sim slot is used to communicate in the U.S. My company calls me through out the day and the colleagues in the U.S. also calls me on the phone but not using the messaging system in the truck. The expense is not small. If I use the trucker plan (Rogers/Bell/Fido) it is $120/month...
     
  9. roundhouse

    roundhouse Road Train Member

    2,886
    6,401
    Jul 11, 2018
    0
    Depends on your tax rate
    But in the US , a $1,400 expense deduction would save you about $260 on taxes

    Not even a dollar a day, so definitely not worth making a big deal out of with the company if you’re making good money and being treated with respect by the dispatchers.
     
    kuelaine89 Thanks this.
  10. kuelaine89

    kuelaine89 Bobtail Member

    8
    2
    Nov 23, 2021
    0
    Thanks for the insight and sharing your wisdom.
     
  11. kuelaine89

    kuelaine89 Bobtail Member

    8
    2
    Nov 23, 2021
    0
    Appreciate your advice!
     
    bryan21384 Thanks this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.