Trucker Tax Tips & Deductions

I can be of additional help through pm if you want private comments. Sometimes I do not like to put things on a public forum.

 

Yes.... was running out of time... didn't know where else to go.

Will do a search... for next time.

Really?? Enlighten me on that one. Another extention? I had already filed an extention and it ends on October/15, correct? Can one file more than one extention and not pay any penalty for that?

Ok.... *sigh*

Yes.... if only I had satellite radio....

The day I have my own business again, I will be thoroughly educated in all aspects of it. I'm not there yet.

I knew very well they are not the best.... Like I said, it was an emergency....

Thank you

 

Do you know that you can claim your pet if in truck with you ? You can claim food, flea , worm or any medications your pet needs. Vet bills, yearly shots can be claimed. My Pet is a 4 lbs Mini Pincher. She is my alarm system. If any one comes near truck she alerts me. I claim average of $1200.00 a Year . It helps get back some $ at end of year. She had growth on her side last year . Was able to claim her surgery . And her medications too! If you have your best friend as you co-pilot , save all receipts , you got a tax credit .

 

This has not been allowed for approx. 10 years now, unless your pet has a certificate from an accredted guard dog school.

 

The firm that does our taxes, claim it every year. Will look onto it my self but will get back asap. But I have never be rejected for it . I been claiming for last 4 years Now. We do run 2 man fright but do not believe that had anything to do with it. I'll check it out now.

 

He files this her as a service dog. She does do a service of letting us know when people are to close to truck. And yes we haul specialty freight aka high threat fright, two man freight. But if you have letter from your MD that your pet is a service as for calming reason. You have mild depression , etc... And pet helps you ne able to cope with this depression etc... It a service pet. That's what he said any how.

 

If any one knows for fact this is not correct please let me know. I'll keep checking web for info. Lol need to see it and read it for myself. Last thing I need is Mr. IRS at my door. I'm sure i would be ok, but no time to fuss with them.

 

I'm not a tax professional. But she's not a certified service dog. Not sure how happy the IRS would be about a prescription for your dog.

 

Dragontamer is correct. A "pet" is not an acceptable deduction. The tax professionals on Sirius satellite radio have addressed this very question numerous times for years. The answer every time has been; "the dog must have been trained as a guard dog by an accredited school to qualify as a legitimate deduction."

Other fallacies regarding dogs are people believe they are exempt from idling restrictions if they have a pet on board. Again this is totally BOGUS. Rover will not prevent CARB agents from writing you a nice ticket if they catch you idling your truck beyond the limits (I believe it is 5 minutes).

Back to the original topic. Many people write off tax deductions every year that are questionable and get away with it because the IRS only selects a handful of returns to actually audit.

Today most returns are filed and reviewed electronically. Anything out of the "norm" will be flagged and kicked out for manual consideration by an agent. If the agent suspects fraud then they will contact you directly and ask use to substantiate your deductions with proper documentation. No documentation? The deduction will be disallowed and taxes and penalties may be assessed on the adjusted amount.

The following link will give you the specifics in regard to a legitmate deduction regarding a dog;

http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc502.html


Medical expenses may include:

• Fees paid to doctors, dentists, surgeons, chiropractors, psychiatrists, psychologists, and Christian Science practitioners for medical care expenses
• Payments for hospital services, qualified long-term care services, nursing services, and laboratory fees including the incidental cost of meals and lodging charged by a hospital or similar institution if your principal reason for being there is to receive medical care
• Payments for acupuncture treatments or inpatient treatment at a center for alcohol or drug addiction are also deductible medical expenses. You may include amounts you paid for participating in a smoking-cessation program and for drugs prescribed to alleviate nicotine withdrawal
• The cost of participating in a weight-loss program for a specific disease or diseases, including obesity, diagnosed by a physician. In general, you may not deduct the cost of purchasing diet food items or the cost of health club dues
• The cost of drugs is deductible only for drugs that require a prescription, except for insulin
• Admission and transportation to a medical conference relating to the chronic disease of yourself, your spouse, or your dependent (if the costs are primarily for and essential to the medical care). However, you may not deduct the costs for meals and lodging while attending the medical conference
• The cost of items such as false teeth, prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses, laser eye surgery, hearing aids, crutches, wheelchairs, and guide dogs for the blind or deaf, and
• Transportation costs primarily for and essential to medical care that qualify as medical expenses. The actual fare for a taxi, bus, train, or ambulance can be deducted. If you use your car for medical transportation, you can deduct actual out-of-pocket expenses such as gas and oil, or you can deduct the standard mileage rate for medical expenses. With either method you may include tolls and parking fees

 

Seems to me that there are alot of people that HEARD THIS somewhere, OR READ this somewhere.

Why has not one poster listed a link to support their claim as to non deductible expense for a pet?


There are situations that allow the deductible expense of a pet on the road. There is lattitude on the issue and the preparer must make a decision based on THEIR knowledge and the INFORMATION provided by the taxpayer.

I have no problem with discussing these issues with my client's.

There are many things that you as a trucker might be taking and the very idea is questionable expenses if you dig right down to it.