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

true arky, but no company is required to pay either form, and that is what the OP was asking about.

 

You are correct. I just re-read his OP. He is asking about both. Although, I still think there is some confusion between the two. There is also a huge difference between money paid out by an employer to cover expenses and what is deductible at the end of the year. As mentioned, the employer is not required to pay anything. Also, I don't think any mileage expenses as an employee commuting to and from work is deductible.

 

Entity has hit the nail on the head.....They either don't need drivers at his yard or are desperate at the other yard and mgmt. is trying to force them to cover.

Since they are rolling power south and paying for it then I'll say they can't get nobody at the other yard. The BS is paying the Houston drivers to offset but not him...and I've been there......we simply told the boss 4q's and he paid PLUS the pay was a strong incentive to get us out of there and back home.

Group up with the others and demand same package or move on......cower here and at one inch and the carrier will take a mile.

JMO

 

I don't think so. Commuting expenses are not deductible as far as I know.

 

So...if I understand correctly...they are paying you mileage for 1 round trip per week + $35/day per diem?

 

you may deduct the total per diem from your income, ONLY if you spend the night away from home. And the $35 per day reduces the amount you can deduct.

And commuting expenses are NOT deductible.

From your question, are you driving home every day? if you are, then you do NOT qualify for the IRS deduction for per diem.

 

I agree with this.

One other thing you need to be sure of is the distance from home that you have to be before expenses (per diem) are deductible. It was mentioned earlier that a different zip code would suffice. I have never heard that before. I have always heard it relative to miles...100 or 150 miles... I can't remember the exact number.

As I said in an earlier post. This is not the place you want to get specific tax advice. We can point you in the right direction but when it comes tax day...or audit day.. saying "well, those guys on truckersreport told me this was correct" won't get you far...lol. Get some good info from a professional.

If I were in your shoes and I wanted to continue working for this company, I would do one of 2 things. 1. Relocate 2. Buy an old beater car to move around in while at the yard and ride their company shuttle back and forth once a week. Get every penny of that per diem and let them transport you to and from home. You can always sell the car when things change.

 

I live in vegas and used to work in Hobbs NM. The rotation was 14/7 and the company paid for hotels/apartments, they guys paid for their own travel. At the end of the year my tax guy, and all of my 2nd opinion tax guys, said I couldn't deduct my travel expenses because my tax home was Hobbs NM, not Las Vegas NV.

Now as for the OP, that my not apply at all. Where's his tax home and what is really being required by the employer?