Ranger Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 Self employed trucker is on the road 5 to 10 days at a time. His previous tax preparer deducted the full M&IE allowed for transportation industry. However, since he spends most nights in his truck, I don’t believe he qualifies for the $5 “incident” portion of the per diem as defined by the IRS. I am curious if anyone else agrees. Incidental expenses.<a name="d0e985"> The term “incidental expenses” means: · Fees and tips given to porters, baggage carriers, bellhops, hotel maids, stewards or stewardesses and others on ships, and hotel servants in foreign countries, · Transportation between places of lodging or business and places where meals are taken, if suitable meals can be obtained at the temporary duty site, and · Mailing costs associated with filing travel vouchers and payment of employer-sponsored charge card billings. Incidental expenses do not include expenses for laundry, cleaning and pressing of clothing, lodging taxes, or the costs of telegrams or telephone . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jainen Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 >>the $5 “incident” portion of the per diem as defined by the IRS.<< No such thing. The IRS publishes a rate for M&IE and an incidental-expenses-only rate. There is no meals-only rate. If the driver pays for meals, he is eligible for M&IE rate (80% deductible). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted March 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2012 Thank you for your response. I will take it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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