Per Diem , Dont fall for the scam

Company drivers don't have Perdiem.

Unless something changed since the last time this forum talked about.

Used to be number of nights away from home.
Don't know how companies figure it out though. I think they're different math.

 

You have to claim more then your standard irs allowance. In other words you have to spend more to be able to claim anything.

If it's still allowed.

 

No I’m asking if the company offers per diem should you take it and they don’t charge you for it

 

As a company driver your employer can still offer per diem as part of your pay. Company drivers no longer have the meal allowance deduction, commonly referred to incorrectly as per diem.

 

Is it better to accept the per diem that the company offers or not to accept it?

 

I’m just a truck driver, but I think it can lower things such as work comp and social security because it lowers your taxable income. But it’s going to put more money in your pocket now because you’re not paying taxes on whatever the per diem amount is. So for example, let’s say you’re being paid 50 cpm, but they’re paying 8 cpm as per diem, you’d pay taxes on 42 cpm and the other 8 wouldn’t be taxed.

 

Got it thanks I usually don’t do the per diem Cause of the reasons you stated about workman’s comp and social security and making major purchases

 

Thanks for the info.

 

Is the money gained up front worth the loss in social security? Seems like the social security boost would pay out more in the long run, assuming you don't keel over early?

 

it’s a simple math question. So, for grins and giggles, let’s do it again.

first, social security is not just an old age pension, it’s also disability insurance and life insurance. So, if you opt out of SS, you should replace it with retirement investments, life insurance and disability insurance to compare apples to apples. And that muddies the water some, because you may not need life insurance dips you don’t have kids at home and don’t support a spouse. Still need disability insurance during your working life, of course.

First thing to recognize is that Social security is half paid by the employee, and half by the employer (round numbers). So you automatically lose the 7,5% of the employer’s contribution. Of course that is easily offset by the 12-28% you will save on income taxes (Fed, State and local). Let’s assume for discussion that the balance of the loss of the employer contribution and the gain in income tax is a net of plus 5% of the portion of your income claimed as per diem.

The math then becomes; 15% put into SSI, vs 20% you personally manage for retirement, life insurance and disability insurance. Let pretend you put 15 of the 20% into retirement investments and the other 5% into term life and disability insurance policies.

Let’s assume:

* the “per diem” portion of your check is $10K per year.
* the SSI return is O% per year (which is actually generous)
* your investment return is 10% per year (slightly below the average of the stock market for the last 100 years).

If you start at age 30, at age 65, after 35 years of contributing an additional $1,500 per year to SSI, your payout will be an average of $52,500.

If you invest it into retirement yourself and get average stock market returns for the same 35 years, at age 65 you will have $475,000.

That’s the math. Of course, if you take option “C”, and take the money and blow it on a new Harley and rounds at the local watering hole, or eve golf equipment, then paying your taxes to the government is the better choice.