Write off fuel for 'Driver Comfort Time'

What!!??? The APU is tied to the tractor fuel tank and tractor fuel is deductible......done. Gasoline for portable equipment on the unit like pumps, gens etc is also deductible.

Correct on carrier response to APU. Units do not make sense to ( financial ) to folks like Werner whom trade at 350k. Driver comfort never enters the equation.

JMO

 

Yes it is deductible, but you may come out ahead by claiming the per diem allowance for each night that you spent on the road instead of itemizing actual expenses. I would think that generator fuel would fall under the lodging allowance, but check with your tax guy to make sure. No receipts required for the per diem allowance deduction.

 

Per deim has nothing to do with fuel.
Not sure on this BUT the fuel you use for an APU should not be taxed (just like off road fuel) so it's not just an expense (read tax dedution) but if you did pay the tax at the pump then you should get reimbersed for it.

 

I deduct fuel. Therefore idling time is considered automatically...

-JD

 

This is where many fail to see things like this.

Any gasoline, diesel, that is used off highway is eligible for refund of the federal fuel tax paid when purchased.

It is a simple form that is done with the tax return and I do this on many returns with large yards.

I have a couple of truck drivers with APU's and we use the hours for the year by the "estimated" cost of operating times the gallons.

 

....and that same form can be used to deduct the road use tax for fuel bought for lawn mowers, weed eaters, dirt bikes, and any other activity you might do around your property that doesn't involve using the roads....IF you keep the receipts, and IF you keep track of things. Remember, any deduction you take and any refund you ask for you MUST be able to provide documentation for in the event of an audit.

The fuel tax is a "user fee"...paid for by people who use the roads in order to fund the roads. If you aren't using the road, you don't have to pay the user fee.

 

scottie, your question was rather confusing.

all fuel bought to operate the truck can be used as a deduction, the diesel used for the apu would usually be on the fuel ticket used fill the truck. and as some stated the off road fuel tax can be deducted also.

if the apu had a seperate diesel tank to fill, you would keep the receipt to prove the deduction. same with the gas used for your generator, it used for your business.

roadmedic, do you know of a list of examples that list expenses that drivers can deduct?

some are the coolers, refrigerators, etc. that you use in the truck.

some expenses you can deduct as a truck owner are greater than what a co. driver can deduct.

did you deduct any of your cell phone bill if you used it in business, your air card for laptop?

 

and i was one who also thought an apu would not pay for itself. since having mine since first of jan , i have conservatively saved 1250.00 a month on fuel , wife figured after payments a total 2500.00 for the first 3 months of the year and that doesnt include the minimum of 125.00 a week on food and eats by now having a refrig /freezer, microwave, toater oven and lunchbox oven.

just on fuel alont the apu is on track to save me 9600 on fuel after making the payments.

of course i do my own maintenance on the apu, oil, filter, fuel filter and air filter cost about 30 bucks and take less than an hour.

but you also have to consider i am in my ride 3 to 4 weeks at a time.