Travel Allowance

Are you sure you pay tax on the $30 ? It seems odd that your company would set this up and not take advantage of per diem to give it to you tax free.

 

Not knowing the exact way they pay you the travel allowance and such.

It seems that they are giving you the 30.00 per day toward the purchase of a motel room and not requiring you to submit receipts to them. If they treat this as an income to you, then yes, you can write off the 30.00 toward the room and the additional it can amount to. It would have nothing to do with the 59.00 per diem which is only for food.

This is just a speculation. I would definately have to have more information to determine actual tax implications. Otherwise, you should find a local accountant and go from there.

 

Are you a CPA ?

 

No. I am an enrolled agent to Practice before the IRS since 1985. Left my business after 20 some years to see the country. Still have many clients.

But, I do not use this forum to get business. I only offer free advice.

 

If the 30 is for the motel, you get the 59 daily per diem. It is taken on the tax return as an itemized deduction form 2106 meals under DOT. You do not need receipts as this is eligible for taking without receipts.


[h=4]Traveling Away From Home[/h]
You are traveling away from home if:

• Your duties require you to be away from the general area of your tax home (defined later) substantially longer than an ordinary day's work, and
  
• You need to sleep or rest to meet the demands of your work while away from home.

This rest requirement is not satisfied by merely napping in your car. You do not have to be away from your tax home for a whole day or from dusk to dawn as long as your relief from duty is long enough to get necessary sleep or rest.

 

I believe you have to itemize