Keep food recipts or not?

More info on meals

The 52.00 per day is based on the standard meal allowance.

IRS Pub 463
link http://www.irs.gov/publications/p463/ch01.html#d0e820

Standard Meal Allowance





Generally, you can use the “standard meal allowance” method as an alternative to the actual cost method. It allows you to use a set amount for your daily meals and incidental expenses (M&IE), instead of keeping records of your actual costs. The set amount varies depending on where and when you travel. In this publication, “standard meal allowance” refers to the federal rate for M&IE, discussed later under Amount of standard meal allowance. If you use the standard meal allowance, you still must keep records to prove the time, place, and business purpose of your travel. See the recordkeeping rules for travel in chapter 5.

(Keep this thought in mind. You can use either the standard meal allowance or actual expenses at all times)

IRS PUB 463

TRANSPORTATION WORKERS
Using the special rate for transportation workers eliminates the need for you to determine the standard meal allowance for every area where you stop for sleep or rest. If you choose to use the special rate for any trip, you must use the special rate (and not use the regular standard meal allowance rates) for all trips you take that year.

(You can use either the standard meal allowance or the transportation rate. Therefore, you can also use actual expenses)

 

does the daily per deim count for ALL driver o\o o\l and company?

 

Yes. They all meet the rules of away from the home.

 

What this rule is talking about is the fact that the M&IE rate is different in different cities through out the country. It has nothing to do with how much you eat. If you keep records of where you are each day (your logbooks count as records for this) you can compute the exact amount you can claim for each day and add them up throughout the year. This can be even more complicated because truck drivers travel through several different cities in the same day. If you drive in the same cities all the time and those cities have a higher rate than the special rate it would make sense to compute this way. Otherwise, stick with the special rate.

Yes you can pick which rate you use but the amount can not exceed the highest rate or I can guarantee you will get audited.

 

I was just pointing out the rules. I have prepared returns for drivers that have chosen to use the actual costs because they spend more. Some have even taken the trouble to figure the actual places for the standard meal allowance.

I assure you, it DOES NOT increase the chance of audit. If you have proof of this allegation, please post it.

I am sure of where I stand.

 

You make it sound like I am the prosecution. OK I can't guarantee you will be audited.

If you have drivers that show receipts for more $52/day in food they have more problems than being audited. They need to go on a diet.

 

I don't care where they eat or what they spend.
If they want to sit down and figure out where they were, it is fine with me.

I see no problem with a return that is properly prepared. I only was addressing the issue of the receipts.

The method without the most work for most truckers will be to use the deduction of 52.00 per day.

 

You do not have to save the meal receipts if you are electing to use the 52.00 per day deduction.

 

You can claim 80% of $52.00.