previous days logs.......huh?

When I do a return, a note is made in the records as to the source of each deduction claimed. In the case of the per diem, I note how this was obtained by the client. In the event there is an audit, I sure do not want to suddenly find the client saying I do not remember. The ethics laws are pretty strict, and frivolous preparation of the return is not something anyone would or should be willing to expose themselves to. Wanton figures just grabbed from the air are not in the preparers best interest either.

 

are you an O/O? Cause if you are I get and respect being anal about it. I am not an O/O and I really don't write much off so I don't get into it like that.

 

I am. But I do some company drivers returns.

When I was a company driver, I still kept them. Like you, I did not itemize, so per diem was a moot issue.

You would be surprised of the guys that bring a box of receipts and say here is my info.

 

My dad used to do that. Unfortunately I'm married to the devil and haven't seen a tax return in probably 10 years. I'm not planning on staying that way so I need to learn quick lol.

 

Dumbest post of the thread award. Drivers, please do not follow this advice.

Your W2 or pay stub will not indicate how many days you are away from the house. There is no way to figure out how many days a DOT qualified driver is away from his home base of operations for the required DOT rest break by looking at those two pieces of paper

 

One thing to use is a spreadsheet whether on computer or not.

There are many cheap programs such as quicken home and business.

There are programs for taxes such as Turbo tax.

 

SO I do $150,000 a year and drive 50 miles, how to I figure this out?

 

Are you home each night? If so, forget the Per Diem.

 

Previous 7 days in the truck, the previous 6 months available for DOT paperwork check at the office, and prior years for tax write offs to three years for audit, and beyond that for other business record keeping needs. You better have log book sheets if you are claiming the per diem on your taxes. That is the only way to prove you were out the full number of days you claim, and since you can only claim partial days for the day coming home or heading back out, how else are you going to prove your count? It takes no time to flip through the log sheets for a month and note how many full days and how many partial days you are out. I have been doing this all year for my hubby, and part of the year for myself. If the IRS decides to audit you, you better have all your receipts and other proof of your claims, or you will end up owing them a lot of money. Talk to a real accountant, not some tool at H & R Block and see what they have to say.

 

We avoid that state if at all possible. Have only been there twice in recent months. They have to try and make some money some how.

It will be interesting to see how this case plays out. Never heard of a driver being put OOS for 34 before, but that doesn't mean it hasn't happened.