Per Diem.....when do I qualify?

IRS standard rate for 2014 is .56 per mile. Lots of firms pay less( some pay it all), but you can deduct that much, IF you itemize.

 

Google GSA per diem lookup. Three Rivers is still standard rate 83.00 Hotel and 46 meals and incidentals. Again some pay full and some not.

 

OP, to be clear: are you asking if your employer is OBLIGATED to pay you a per diem/travel expenses? Or are you asking about tax write-offs?

 

They are not "obligated" to pay per diem...but as been said, if you don't collect per diem on your check, you can claim at the end of the year.

i.e.- At tax time, I grab my log books and start counting pages that I slept in the truck and not at home...and give that figure to my accountant, and have the logs to back it up in case of an audit.

 

Well, first thing I think you are looking at this the wrong way. Don't mean to be blunt, but the gig is up that yard. Volume decreased, someone lost a contract, etc. they are pretty much laying you off in an indirect way. "we have no work for you, but go over there and we'll get you something."

Start job hunting.

 

Exactly. The whole point of PD is that they can yank it away whenever they want. If not, it'd be just part of your wages.

 

As far as per diem goes that is a company thing they are not obligated to pay you per diem. But you can google per diem and a goverment site will give you what your PD would be for what particular job you do for the company ie; equipment operator, driver, laboerer. What I've done in the past is keep track of how many days your working, figure the PD for that region, come tax time you can deduct this from your taxes, keep track of all your expenses related to your job too. If you have to buy work boots, pants other than jeans, work gloves, laundry soap, if you use your personal vehicle to drive from one location to another that's a deduction (but you have to keep precise mileage records) going to the store is not deductible. If you have question I will answer as much as I know

 

he's right, and if a company pays less than the goverment standard .56 at this time you can deduct the difference, but you better have proof as in mileage records to back it up should you be auditted.

 

You guys are mixing two completely different things. There is a mileage deduction for business use of a personal vehicle (very, very few "employees" will qualify this). Then there is an expense reimbursement that can be paid your employer (or claimed as a deduction). The two are totally and completely different. One has nothing whatsoever to do with the other.

I'm not going into the details of either of them as I'm afraid it would turn into a huge pile of misinformation (including myself..I'm no CPA either). Just do your research online...or better yet...talk to a GOOD tax advisor or CPA. It is very much worth the effort of educating yourself, but the IRS watches this particular stuff like a hawk. Get it right.