Do you get paid for mileage you drive for your job?

[GH85Carrera]

I have another question.

There are several apps for phones that help track mileage for work related travel. Yea, I know a simple pencil and paper will do it as well, but that is just so analog.

I see the different apps and thought a few of the geeks on Pelican likely use one. Which one do you uses and which ones suck the most, so I can avoid them?

If I have to make a trip at 54.5 cents per mile that adds up fast. For example it is 23 miles for me to get to the local airport the airlines use. A round trip is $25.07 paid to me and that is not subject to tax. It adds up fast. It is a pain to keep a notebook on paper. There has to be a better way.

[GH85Carrera]

With the issues the board had I will bump this.

[bleucamaro]

I usually just submit a google map route for work travel comp. But I rarely travel for work. If you just are driving to the airport and back once a week or less, I think either pencil/paper or google map printout would be simplest. If you're a traveling salesman or service pro driving thousands of miles or have a complex route, then get an app.

[Noah930]

I keep a pen and paper log. Slight pain in the a$$. Have not been audited by IRS, but that's the reason I do it.

[ZAMIRZ]

I would just uber and expense the receipts. Why bother putting the wear/tear on your own car + the pain in the neck if it gets hit.

[Tidybuoy]

My company does pay mileage however, I never turn in an expense report for this (I rarely have to travel, other than going to Home Depot or Office Depot). I have measured all the common destinations that I send employees to (i.e., our other plants) and I pay employees based on the standard mileage to these destinations.

[sc_rufctr]

A GPS Based app for your phone would be ideal & there are a few available but I can't personally recommend one.

My company does pays mileage & other expenses but the on-line expense system is so complicated a lot of people don't bother.
(I think this was done or purpose to discourage claims )

[aigel]

Started to use "Expensify" here and it allows you to just give start / finish point and it does the math for you. Also can take pictures of receipts and upload as you go. Very good app, IMHO. But it has to be used by your accounting department, I think.

G

[CalPersFatCat]

MileIQ

unbelievable app.

daily, weekly, monthly or annual printouts.

you can name and rename every stop that your vehicle makes and this location is remembered forever or until you change it. For instance, all trips to the post office are deductible for me. I name the post office "post office" and after my third trip to that location, the app will ask me if all trips to the "post office" are deductible. If i say yes, then from that point on, every trip to the post office is automatically added to my business miles and I am never asked about a trip to that location again.

for 2016 I had a $5,650 deduction. 2017, $4,851 deduction. The app tracks everything and can be quickly emailed or printed out for your records. One click and you have a printout which includes, beginning point, ending point and mileage between the two points, of every single business trip for the year. Hand that to your CPA and your done.

Also, you have a Primary vehicle and can add as many alternate vehicles as you need.

Its $50 or $60 bucks a year, which of course.... is also a deduction. : )

DL

[Bill Douglas]

I just make up a number that was similar to last year's.

[Seahawk]

I just use G Maps for business trips. I own part of the company (I know you do as well) so I am good to go. I don't claim per diem, btw.

For the farm I keep paper records on a small notebook in pen I keep in the two primary farm vehicles.

It is just easier. I am in the habit of reaching for it on every farm related trip. I also write on the receipts I get for all farm vendors on the trips I log with the mileage.

It is like flying - logs and records are easy.

[ckelly78z]

Our main office is in a town 30 miles away, and occasionally (1-2 times a week), I have to drive my own car over to pick up, or drop off business items......I can't complain, it's $32.40 for each round trip, and makes for nice (tax free, or should I say, not taxed in the check) pocket money.


BTW, I am an Analog man in a digital world, I don't have a single App on my phone, and still leave paper notes for everything I want to do.

[A930Rocket]

This might be a good time to ask my question.

I get a monthly $500 truck allowance, but it’s taxed. I’ve never had that happen before. Did things change in the last year?

[Instrument 41]

We were just bought out and I USE to get $700 month allowance, Gas card and credit card. Now.. I get $551 car allowance and get 21.3 cents per mile and no gas card. They have a system called Runzhiemer and you can use the app on your phone. However it shows every stop and start. Stop at a store to pickup customer food, starts up again. That's is now considered "commuter miles" and your not reimbursed for that. I do not use the app. So I set the "A" trip meter and use that. All I put down is my starting location and ending location and then enter that as my work mileage. When I get home and on the weekend the truck doesn't move. Mileage for January was 3968 miles. So far this month I'm at 1786.

[Tobra]

No, but I can take it as an expense.

[ben parrish]

Tax law has changed this year... if you are W2, mileage is no longer deductible. I am looking into this now because I routinely log over 30-40 k miles per year....this could hurt come tax time. May be time to start a consulting business that ties into my normal job.

[GH85Carrera]

OK, to clarify, I own the company, well 1/2 of it. It is a partnership. I just had to make a trip to the National Weather Center in Norman, OK to deliver a external hard drive to a client. 34 miles each way. You do the math. Next is a trip to a small airport so we can go fly a project. Hauling my partner and equipment. 21 miles away.

Uber is not really an option. We drive our own cars and we don't want the company liability of a company owned car, and various other reasons. I have my paid for (for over 25 years) El Camino and have no interest in a new car. At over 50 cents per mile tax free from the IRS allowed I am making money as my car does not cost me that much per mile.

I want to keep it simple. Whipping out the pencil and notebook works but it is so 17th century. I live in the 21st century. I like digital assistance. I always have me smartphone with me, and I am lazy.

[Seahawk]

I am a 17th Century Man!

A small spiral flip is the ticket, I assure you. I bring it in every Saturday and enter into a spread sheet. That takes five minutes and I also reconcile receipts (if any) to support the mileage.

I just threw a wooden shoe at my screen.

Or these:

https://appadvice.com/appguides/show/Mileage-Tracking-Apps-For-iPhone

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

We drive our own cars and we don't want the company liability of a company owned car, and various other reasons.

That's an interesting philosophy. I wanted as much liability on my companies as possible. I made sure my businesses never had any savings to put at risk, but I had personal savings and I wanted to protect them.

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

OK, to clarify, I own the company, well 1/2 of it. It is a partnership.

So why do you not get a car on the company for you and your partner.
that way it's a deductible cost to the company rather then something you pay out of your after taxes personal income?

Hell, In Belgium we even get a car from our employer as part of our salary since it's cheaper for the company to pay for a car and fuel card, then it is to pay us the equivalent amount needed so we can pay the car and fuel card ourselves.
My boss don't even care how much I drive with it.. Sometimes i'm bored and I drive up and down to Stuttgart to look at shiny Porsches in the Museum... it's only 450 miles one way.