Does Schneider pay practical miles? Do they pay per diem?

You're right CondoCruiser, profits are the bottom line for the company. You have to do what is best for you.

 

Be ready for a audit! Double dipping is not cool with the IRS . You can not take per diem through the company and at years end. Heck wish I could ,I would be all over it ! Would got back over 10k if I did. Before you do that again , you may want to ask a tax pro. The company per deim was your deduction , just early not a second one.

 

No double dipping here. Any reimbursements from the company would be listed in Block 14 of your W-2. If you are using the per diem plan that amount, if any, would be subtracted on line 7 of Form 2106. (employee business expenses).

 

see, I think there is a miscommunication in your initial post. It came across backwards. I think you were speaking of transportation workers deduction , not the company sponsered/administered program which has a cost associated with it..

You are correct in the meal receipts do not need to be accounted for , BUT there are plenty of other write offable(is that a word?) expenses that can be deducted on either the compnay plan or the do it yourself way, which most here think is the best way to go.

Company per diem program pays out ONLY on paid miles. Not for each day away that the IRS would otherwise allow Trans workers. So in the end for on on the road resets, breakdown days etc, Doing it yourself is better.

 

Right, I was calling both of them per diem and yes I was speaking of the DOT deductions. There are plenty of business deductions you can use, just keep all your receipts.

 

I sincerely hope I've misunderstood your post. Any driver using Schneider's Per Diem Plan where they receive part of their pay in mileage (taxable) and part in per diem (not taxable) is losing money.

The below charts are extremly rough, and assume filing single with any other deductions being equal (which is a pretty dumb assumption).

[TABLE="class: grid, width: 1564"]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Per Deim
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Non Per Diem[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Opting Out[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Paid Miles[/TD]
[TD]Days Out[/TD]
[TD]Pay Rate[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Mile Rate[/TD]
[TD]Per Diem Rate[/TD]
[TD]Tax Rate[/TD]
[TD]Taxable Income[/TD]
[TD]Total Income[/TD]
[TD]Tax Paid[/TD]
[TD]After Tax Income[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Tax Rate[/TD]
[TD]Taxable Income[/TD]
[TD]Total Income[/TD]
[TD]Tax Paid[/TD]
[TD]After Tax Income[/TD]
[TD]Earns You[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]100000[/TD]
[TD]250[/TD]
[TD]$0.32[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]$0.14[/TD]
[TD]$0.16[/TD]
[TD]0.1[/TD]
[TD]$14,000[/TD]
[TD]$30,000[/TD]
[TD]$1,400[/TD]
[TD]$28,600[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]0.13[/TD]
[TD]$20,200[/TD]
[TD]$32,000[/TD]
[TD]$2,626.00[/TD]
[TD]$29,374.00[/TD]
[TD]$774.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]110000[/TD]
[TD]275[/TD]
[TD]$0.32[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]$0.14[/TD]
[TD]$0.16[/TD]
[TD]0.1[/TD]
[TD]$15,400[/TD]
[TD]$33,000[/TD]
[TD]$1,540[/TD]
[TD]$31,460[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]0.13[/TD]
[TD]$22,220[/TD]
[TD]$35,200[/TD]
[TD]$2,888.60[/TD]
[TD]$32,311.40[/TD]
[TD]$851.40[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]120000[/TD]
[TD]260[/TD]
[TD]$0.32[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]$0.14[/TD]
[TD]$0.16[/TD]
[TD]0.1[/TD]
[TD]$16,800[/TD]
[TD]$36,000[/TD]
[TD]$1,680[/TD]
[TD]$34,320[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]0.13[/TD]
[TD]$26,128[/TD]
[TD]$38,400[/TD]
[TD]$3,396.64[/TD]
[TD]$35,003.36[/TD]
[TD]$683.36[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]130000[/TD]
[TD]280[/TD]
[TD]$0.32[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]$0.14[/TD]
[TD]$0.16[/TD]
[TD]0.1[/TD]
[TD]$18,200[/TD]
[TD]$39,000[/TD]
[TD]$1,820[/TD]
[TD]$37,180[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]0.13[/TD]
[TD]$28,384[/TD]
[TD]$41,600[/TD]
[TD]$3,689.92[/TD]
[TD]$37,910.08[/TD]
[TD]$730.08[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]140000[/TD]
[TD]300[/TD]
[TD]$0.32[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]$0.14[/TD]
[TD]$0.16[/TD]
[TD]0.1[/TD]
[TD]$19,600[/TD]
[TD]$42,000[/TD]
[TD]$1,960[/TD]
[TD]$40,040[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]0.13[/TD]
[TD]$30,640[/TD]
[TD]$44,800[/TD]
[TD]$3,983.20[/TD]
[TD]$40,816.80[/TD]
[TD]$776.80
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Per Deim [/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Non Per Diem[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Opting Out[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Paid Miles[/TD]
[TD]Days Out[/TD]
[TD]Pay Rate[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Mile Rate[/TD]
[TD]Per Diem Rate[/TD]
[TD]Tax Rate[/TD]
[TD]Taxable Income[/TD]
[TD]Total Income[/TD]
[TD]Tax Paid[/TD]
[TD]After Tax Income[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Tax Rate[/TD]
[TD]Taxable Income[/TD]
[TD]Total Income[/TD]
[TD]Tax Paid[/TD]
[TD]After Tax Income[/TD]
[TD]Earns You[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]100000[/TD]
[TD]250[/TD]
[TD]$0.34[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]$0.16[/TD]
[TD]$0.16[/TD]
[TD]0.12[/TD]
[TD]$16,000[/TD]
[TD]$32,000[/TD]
[TD]$1,920[/TD]
[TD]$30,080[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]0.13[/TD]
[TD]$22,200[/TD]
[TD]$34,000[/TD]
[TD]$2,886.00[/TD]
[TD]$31,114.00[/TD]
[TD]$1,034.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]110000[/TD]
[TD]275[/TD]
[TD]$0.34[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]$0.16[/TD]
[TD]$0.16[/TD]
[TD]0.12[/TD]
[TD]$17,600[/TD]
[TD]$35,200[/TD]
[TD]$2,112[/TD]
[TD]$33,088[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]0.13[/TD]
[TD]$24,420[/TD]
[TD]$37,400[/TD]
[TD]$3,174.60[/TD]
[TD]$34,225.40[/TD]
[TD]$1,137.40[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]120000[/TD]
[TD]260[/TD]
[TD]$0.34[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]$0.16[/TD]
[TD]$0.16[/TD]
[TD]0.12[/TD]
[TD]$19,200[/TD]
[TD]$38,400[/TD]
[TD]$2,304[/TD]
[TD]$36,096[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]0.13[/TD]
[TD]$28,528[/TD]
[TD]$40,800[/TD]
[TD]$3,708.64[/TD]
[TD]$37,091.36[/TD]
[TD]$995.36[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]130000[/TD]
[TD]280[/TD]
[TD]$0.34[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]$0.16[/TD]
[TD]$0.16[/TD]
[TD]0.12[/TD]
[TD]$20,800[/TD]
[TD]$41,600[/TD]
[TD]$2,496[/TD]
[TD]$39,104[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]0.13[/TD]
[TD]$30,984[/TD]
[TD]$44,200[/TD]
[TD]$4,027.92[/TD]
[TD]$40,172.08[/TD]
[TD]$1,068.08[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]140000[/TD]
[TD]300[/TD]
[TD]$0.34[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]$0.16[/TD]
[TD]$0.16[/TD]
[TD]0.12[/TD]
[TD]$22,400[/TD]
[TD]$44,800[/TD]
[TD]$2,688[/TD]
[TD]$42,112[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]0.13[/TD]
[TD]$33,440[/TD]
[TD]$47,600[/TD]
[TD]$4,347.20[/TD]
[TD]$43,252.80[/TD]
[TD]$1,140.80[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Per Deim [/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Non Per Diem[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Opting Out[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Paid Miles[/TD]
[TD]Days Out[/TD]
[TD]Pay Rate[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Mile Rate[/TD]
[TD]Per Diem Rate[/TD]
[TD]Tax Rate[/TD]
[TD]Taxable Income[/TD]
[TD]Total Income[/TD]
[TD]Tax Paid[/TD]
[TD]After Tax Income[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Tax Rate[/TD]
[TD]Taxable Income[/TD]
[TD]Total Income[/TD]
[TD]Tax Paid[/TD]
[TD]After Tax Income[/TD]
[TD]Earns You[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]100000[/TD]
[TD]250[/TD]
[TD]$0.36[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]$0.18[/TD]
[TD]$0.16[/TD]
[TD]0.12[/TD]
[TD]$18,000[/TD]
[TD]$34,000[/TD]
[TD]$2,160[/TD]
[TD]$31,840[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]0.14[/TD]
[TD]$24,200[/TD]
[TD]$36,000[/TD]
[TD]$3,388.00[/TD]
[TD]$32,612.00[/TD]
[TD]$772.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]110000[/TD]
[TD]275[/TD]
[TD]$0.36[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]$0.18[/TD]
[TD]$0.16[/TD]
[TD]0.12[/TD]
[TD]$19,800[/TD]
[TD]$37,400[/TD]
[TD]$2,376[/TD]
[TD]$35,024[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]0.14[/TD]
[TD]$26,620[/TD]
[TD]$39,600[/TD]
[TD]$3,726.80[/TD]
[TD]$35,873.20[/TD]
[TD]$849.20
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]120000[/TD]
[TD]260[/TD]
[TD]$0.36[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]$0.18[/TD]
[TD]$0.16[/TD]
[TD]0.12[/TD]
[TD]$21,600[/TD]
[TD]$40,800[/TD]
[TD]$2,592[/TD]
[TD]$38,208[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]0.14[/TD]
[TD]$30,928[/TD]
[TD]$43,200[/TD]
[TD]$4,329.92[/TD]
[TD]$38,870.08[/TD]
[TD]$662.08[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]130000[/TD]
[TD]280[/TD]
[TD]$0.36[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]$0.18[/TD]
[TD]$0.16[/TD]
[TD]0.12[/TD]
[TD]$23,400[/TD]
[TD]$44,200[/TD]
[TD]$2,808[/TD]
[TD]$41,392[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]0.14[/TD]
[TD]$33,584[/TD]
[TD]$46,800[/TD]
[TD]$4,701.76[/TD]
[TD]$42,098.24[/TD]
[TD]$706.24[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]140000[/TD]
[TD]300[/TD]
[TD]$0.36[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]$0.18[/TD]
[TD]$0.16[/TD]
[TD]0.12[/TD]
[TD]$25,200[/TD]
[TD]$47,600[/TD]
[TD]$3,024[/TD]
[TD]$44,576[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]0.14[/TD]
[TD]$36,240[/TD]
[TD]$50,400[/TD]
[TD]$5,073.60[/TD]
[TD]$45,326.40[/TD]
[TD]$750.40[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Per Deim [/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Non Per Diem[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Opting Out[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Paid Miles[/TD]
[TD]Days Out[/TD]
[TD]Pay Rate[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Mile Rate[/TD]
[TD]Per Diem Rate[/TD]
[TD]Tax Rate[/TD]
[TD]Taxable Income[/TD]
[TD]Total Income[/TD]
[TD]Tax Paid[/TD]
[TD]After Tax Income[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Tax Rate[/TD]
[TD]Taxable Income[/TD]
[TD]Total Income[/TD]
[TD]Tax Paid[/TD]
[TD]After Tax Income[/TD]
[TD]Earns You[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]100000[/TD]
[TD]250[/TD]
[TD]$0.40[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]$0.22[/TD]
[TD]$0.16[/TD]
[TD]0.12[/TD]
[TD]$25,000[/TD]
[TD]$28,600[/TD]
[TD]$3,000[/TD]
[TD]$25,600[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]0.15[/TD]
[TD]$18,576[/TD]
[TD]$30,000[/TD]
[TD]$2,786.40[/TD]
[TD]$27,213.60[/TD]
[TD]$1,613.60[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]110000[/TD]
[TD]275[/TD]
[TD]$0.40[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]$0.22[/TD]
[TD]$0.16[/TD]
[TD]0.12[/TD]
[TD]$24,200[/TD]
[TD]$41,800[/TD]
[TD]$2,904[/TD]
[TD]$38,896[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]0.15[/TD]
[TD]$31,020[/TD]
[TD]$44,000[/TD]
[TD]$4,653.00[/TD]
[TD]$39,347.00[/TD]
[TD]$451.00
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]120000[/TD]
[TD]260[/TD]
[TD]$0.40[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]$0.22[/TD]
[TD]$0.16[/TD]
[TD]0.12[/TD]
[TD]$26,400[/TD]
[TD]$45,600[/TD]
[TD]$3,168[/TD]
[TD]$42,432[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]0.15[/TD]
[TD]$35,728[/TD]
[TD]$48,000[/TD]
[TD]$5,359.20[/TD]
[TD]$42,640.80[/TD]
[TD]$208.80[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]130000[/TD]
[TD]280[/TD]
[TD]$0.40[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]$0.22[/TD]
[TD]$0.16[/TD]
[TD]0.12[/TD]
[TD]$28,600[/TD]
[TD]$49,400[/TD]
[TD]$3,432[/TD]
[TD]$45,968[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]0.15[/TD]
[TD]$38,784[/TD]
[TD]$52,000[/TD]
[TD]$5,817.60[/TD]
[TD]$46,182.40[/TD]
[TD]$214.40[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]140000[/TD]
[TD]300[/TD]
[TD]$0.40[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]$0.22[/TD]
[TD]$0.16[/TD]
[TD]0.12[/TD]
[TD]$30,800[/TD]
[TD]$53,200[/TD]
[TD]$3,696[/TD]
[TD]$49,504[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]0.15[/TD]
[TD]$41,840[/TD]
[TD]$56,000[/TD]
[TD]$6,276.00[/TD]
[TD]$49,724.00[/TD]
[TD]$220.00
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


Even using the numbers from Tax Time Made Easy I get this:

[TABLE="class: grid, width: 863"]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]Tax Time Made Easy
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] Per Diem[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]W-2 Gross [/TD]
[TD]Per Diem[/TD]
[TD]Total Deductions[/TD]
[TD]Tax Income[/TD]
[TD]Tax[/TD]
[TD]Tax Paid[/TD]
[TD]After Tax Income[/TD]
[TD]Money Lost by Opting In
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] $ 25,000.00[/TD]
[TD] $ 3,600.00[/TD]
[TD] $ 8,462.00[/TD]
[TD] $ 16,538.00[/TD]
[TD]0.1[/TD]
[TD] $ 1,653.80[/TD]
[TD] $ 26,946.20[/TD]
[TD] $ (1,238.00)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] $ 35,000.00[/TD]
[TD] $ 3,600.00[/TD]
[TD] $ 8,262.00[/TD]
[TD] $ 26,738.00[/TD]
[TD]0.1[/TD]
[TD] $ 2,673.80[/TD]
[TD] $ 35,926.20[/TD]
[TD] $ (1,178.00)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Non Per Diem[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]W-2 Gross [/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Total Deductions[/TD]
[TD]Tax Income[/TD]
[TD]Tax[/TD]
[TD]Tax Paid[/TD]
[TD]After Tax Income[/TD]
[TD]Money Saved by Opting Out[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] $ 30,000.00[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD] $ 11,842.00[/TD]
[TD] $ 18,158.00[/TD]
[TD]0.1[/TD]
[TD] $ 1,815.80[/TD]
[TD] $ 28,184.20[/TD]
[TD] $ 1,238.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] $ 40,000.00[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD] $ 11,042.00[/TD]
[TD] $ 28,958.00[/TD]
[TD]0.1[/TD]
[TD] $ 2,895.80[/TD]
[TD] $ 37,104.20[/TD]
[TD] $ 1,178.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

First of all, The per diem rate is $59 per day in the U.S. and $65 per day out of Country, for days away from you tax home. You can deduct 80% of the rate for full days away and 75% for partial days which is any day you leave your tax home or return to your tax home. That being said, if you so choose to allow the company to pay you per diem, which is a bad choice ( see post above) you still figure your rate for the year. If the company did not pay you that amount, then you can claim the difference. Your best bet is DO NOT LET COMPANY PAY YOU PER DIEM!!! And your logs are your supporting documents that the IRS wants to see in the event of an audit.
So keep your logs with your tax records.

 

I believe I understand what you're saying speedbuggy but according to the rules you have to use the same method for the entire year. If you received tax free money from the Schneider plan but choose to use the DOT plan at year end you must subtract that amount of (tax free money) from your total business expenses on Form 2106. The tax free amount that you received is listed in block 14 of your W-2. The problem I see with going that route is that you would lose the 2 cents admin fee that Schneider charges, so in most cases I would say you are better off opting out of the Schneider plan and using the DOT plan. Most people would come up with enough expenses to make it worthwhile itemizing on your Fed tax, especially if you're on the road a lot. There's lots of expenses you can also deduct under business expenses, make sure you hang on to all the receipts.

 

Like I said your best bet is to opt out of the company deal.

 

I'll review my tax return when I get a chance (was off the per diem plan last year while I was on it the prior 2 years), but I think it's not entiry accurate to bash the per diem plan that the company offers. It really depends on your individual circumstances. Being single no kids and no mortgage there aren't any deductions other than per diem and other minor expenses. When I was on their per diem plan I was getting net checks of $850-$900 for a full week. Off their per diem plan my checks were netting $750-800 at best for a full week. And I only got a $1600 refund so again I was making out slightly better on their plan. One thing to note is when you're on per diem you're paying approximately $1000-$1200 less in FICA taxes because your gross pay is reduced. I'll have to look at the numbers but I'm pretty sure by itemizing per diem you're also losing the standard deduction on your tax return. So again, if you have mortgage interest payments and other deductible items then it's worth itemizing. If all you have is the per diem deduction it's probably not worth losing the standard deduction you can take while taking advantage of their per diem plan in this specific instance.

And as a follow up comment, please don't make the argument that your getting screwed out of contributions to your social security account by being on per diem. Why anyone would want to give more money to the Washington, D.C. crooks than they have to is beyond my comprehension.