What's wrong with per diem pay?

You had a good point about having the amount cash needed to have buying power. Its just that I know to make good money in this industry you haft to be willing to put in some hard work. I was just curious to see what you were doing.
I remember talking to a guy who stated he'd only make it home a couple times a year.
That's the lifestyle for some, others actually have a life.

To be honest you sound like a true road dog, staying out months at a time. That's fine to each they're own. Some kinda want to try and preserv some of that family life, for what they can.

 

SO let me get this straight ...

First and foremost; talk to a CPA.

But it seems as though (if I read all this right) that the majority of us can agree that per diem can be a good thing if...

a) it's paid in full by the employer

........ and ............

b) if it's not shown on your W2 in the end of the year

... but then my question is this ...don't we have to report that extra income even if it doesn't show on your W2?!?!

 

The short answer is no. It is not considered income by the IRS, and it will most probably show on your W2, but in a different box than your income.

According to IRS rules if it is paid by the employer on a cents-per-mile basis the discount is considered to be "substantiated". Meaning they will accept it as long as it's a reasonable amount.

Here's the IRS link, but it's a long (boring) read.

http://www.irs.gov/irb/2011-42_IRB/ar12.html#d0e1885

 

Reading all this makes me think I'm in a good spot. Gone Monday through Friday, home every weekend. Paid hourly, and 59$ every night I'm in the sleeper.

 

thanx for the link... I'll check it out later ...

 

Ya that sounds good with the $59 a day , but do you get a decent mileage pay. I would say 10 or more cents higher than that 22 cent a mile would probably be OK. Depending on how many miles you get. The exception would be teams, who only split about a quarter a mile anyways, or trainers who would be paid for both they're miles and they're students.

Sorry miss read that, say if you get a decent hourly rate. I guess any wear around 15 or so, a little more would be great, with the added $59 a day. That would also depend on how man hours you get, and if you got paid over time.

You haft to think, use your head, go figure , is a good deal or just some fancy screw job.

 

I wont say the hourly rate but I will say it is very good, we'll above 15 and as far as hours, I 70 out almost every week and the weeks I don't I still get over 60, with overtime above 50 hrs.