Schneider Chat Room version 2.0

Listening to you drivers sounds like you all hate the per diem. im

 

Actually I'm one of the few that defends it. Personally, I've switched off of per diem the beginning of last year and based on what I noticed I'm taking home less off per diem than I have on it.

It depends on your individual situation. Me personally, I don't have a house or mortgage interest, I don't have any other significant deductions. So on my taxes if I'm on per diem I get to take the standard deduction plus the per diem deductions off the top on the company program. Personally, I haven't compared tax returns yet, but I believe me personally would be better off on the company plan. Now if you have a home, mortgage interest, dependents and other types of itemized deductions on you tax return, getting the extra $2500/ year off the company per diem plan may work out better.

Most of the drivers that hate on the per diem plan make the claim that the company is screwing you out of your social security contributions, like the federal government actually takes that money and puts it into your own personal account. The less money of my money (and less of the companies money if it means I send in less) that goes to the feds the better. Screw them.

 

For me I make about $3500 more a year on per diem. When sni doesn't take per diem or I get a bonus my checks suck and they shouldn't. I still itemized and claim per diem on my taxes because sni doesn't pay you the full amount.

 

To make sure I'm following you right - you take the per diem pay plan AND the full standard meal deduction?

 

I think he said once before he takes the difference. For example, if he is entitled to, say.. $5000 in standard meal deductions, and he received only $3500 from SNI as per diem, he claims the other $1500. (These are made up numbers, used for example only...)

 

That is correct. Current rate is $59 a day. So say 300 days on road is roughly $17700 for year so if I get $10000 From sni I can still claim the $7700 that I'm owed.

 

I thought I misunderstood.

Out of curiosity how much is your per diem rate?

 

current rate is 59 per day but you only get 80% as a deduction for a total of 47.20 a day...

 

so if you claim the "other 7700" you could be asking for an audit in the future. And as far as the SS from the Gooberment they base what your supposed to collect in the future off of what you have paid in not a mysterious number. So by paying less in and the company paying less in you will eventually get less if there's any to get in the first place. I mean do you really think a company is going to "give " you per diem if they don't benefit from it...

 

Also say you get hurt on the job, which I hope no one does but if you did your workers comp is based off your taxable salary which does not include per diem if you take it thru the company and I know this from first hand exp.