should i be keeping receipts?

As someone who is getting ready to undergo an in depth probing of my 2011 Taxes, I can assure you that you want to keep a tracking record of something. Oh, and there is no guarantee they will accept your log books as proof of time away from home. I spent 3 hours on the phone with the IRS this past Tuesday, when I brought up the log books, I was told to submit them with a letter from my company, BUT, they do not have to accept them, as they are "self filled out", "self generated". When I explained that these are a legal/binding document per US DOT, I was told it didn't matter. Spoke with a local Tax Atty., he said it depends on their mood if they will accept them or not. If they reject them, then I can appeal the whole thing and attempt to get them admitted as proof.

 

If you keep those receipts, Does your company will pay your expenses?

 

That is the first time I have ever heard of IRS dictating that they will not accept a log book.

The Logbook is a legal document that is tied to the exact activity of the truck driver.

If they deny it, just politely advise them that you will enact the Cohen rule for record reconstruction. This is a rule that allows you to take as much time as needed to compile additional information to support the per diem from other sources.

I have used that on several audits. It sends a panic through the agent, because it extends the audit which they hope to close quickly or move off the desk.

 

Submission of the log satisfies your record keeping requirement. If they don't want to accept it, the burden is on them to show why it won't be accepted. If they don't have a very significant reason, they will almost certainly lose on appeal.

Claiming the reason to be that they are "self filled out", "self generated" is a crock. The majority of records that businesses have are "self generated." That alone is not a reason for them to be disallowed.

 

I've always kept receipts, either the original or a scanned copy. The exception is my fuel purchases. I use ComData to buy fuel and the statements shows the date, time, location, number of gallons purchased and any discount that I may have received, plus the total amount paid naturally. So my statement is my fuel receipt, no need to keep individual fuel tickets. The other exception is laundry, I have a note book that I right the date, location and amount each time I do some washing. This is my receipt for that activity.