[arrbsthw]

If you go to the grocery store and buy $80.00 worth of
groceries, water, plates, paper towels, etc. How do you
determine what is deductible. Is the food ded or is is part of the
per diem? Are supplies such as papertowels, tt paper, forks
etc ded?
and I know I have asked this before but I just don't understand..
If my husband and I both have our name on tax return
A....& R....Wa... with both ss #'s is the per diem per day for
each of us. (we both eat). 52 x 2 = 104 minus the %.

the food that we buy eating out at mickey d's etc is included in
our per diem..right? Do I need to save receipts for that?
I save all my Walmart receipts where I buy groceries for the
truck also.
Sorry for asking again but I just need to understand this.

[are12]

When you take the per diem, you cannot deduct the food you buy or from fast food restaurants. (no need to save receipts, since you can't claim it). As for the papertowels, tt paper, laundry supplies, if they are purchased out of my personal checking, I just circle the items and put the amount spent on the top of the receipt. I usually try and separate anything for the truck and use my business account to purchase those items
As for you both getting the per diem, the answer is yes.
Hope this helps.

[TeamCaffee]

You both get to take the per diem for your taxes. We also try to purchase all truck items with our business account. You can deduct the paper towels and cleaning supplies also rugs for the truck cooking utensils, bedding anything that is only going to be used in the truck. Anything you are going to eat or showers are included in the PerDeim so is not deductible. You can also not deduct anything that is for your own personal entertainment such as DVD's or going to the movies but you can deduct the DVD player as long as you watch something on there that is considered training which we all of course do.

[arrbsthw]

Thanks so much for your help. I really appreciate it.

[arrbsthw]

How about gallons of water for cooking and bottles of water
for drinking and pepcid or other meds?

[TeamCaffee]

As far as I know none of the above is deductable. Water covered by per diem and medicine is a personal expense that you would use on the road or at home.

[arrbsthw]

ok, thanks again

[are12]

TeamCaffee, It has always been my understanding that you could deduct what you spend for entertainment while on the road. I guess I need to ask my accountant again.

[terryandrene]

A $ J

It's been my understanding that you may deduct entertainment expenses if you are entertaining a client for the purpose of generating or maintaining a business relationship that produces taxable revenue. Movies during layover wouldn't count.

[OntarioVanMan]

We deduct showers and the ICE that keeps the food cold.....
and the gas for the portable generator.

Linda in your accountants line of thinking if you can't take the showers then you can't take anything connected to the per diem..that would include the utensils to eat that food with and paper plates to eat that food on....nor the bedding.

[TeamCaffee]

Frank has said more then once on here that showers are no longer deductible as they are included in the PerDiem. Anything related to food is not deductible as it is covered in the PerDeim. The paper towels are deductible as you can use them to clean the windshield or other items on the truck. All cleaning supplies are deductible that you use to clean the truck. The entertainment has to be proven that you talked business such as taking a potential driver out to supper. Going to a movie would be pretty hard to prove as a deduction.

[OntarioVanMan]

Re: showers...I'd like to see that ruling...

I am finding that accountants are like truck drivers....no 2 will agree.

[butterfly610]

On almost all the websites I've researched trying to find a good trucking accountant, their websites say you can take the per diem, but also list showers in the list of deductible things. Recently one that I spoke to said to let them know the amount of days spent out on the road, and also said to give totals for deductible items, and showers were on that list. There's so many things you can claim as long as you use them in the truck.

[chetjester]

I was glad to find this thread. I feel pretty confident about what can be deducted, but one thing baffles me.

I was told that non-prepared foods ( please tell me what they are?) were deductible even with a per diem deduction.

I'm ready for all y'all opinions on that. And, even better, real facts.

[terryandrene]

It would be unreasonable to think that you could buy $20 worth of food to prepare in your truck, take the tax deduction, and then take the $52 Standard meal allowance deduction. The IRS regulations are clear that you may deduct actual expenses for food OR deduct the Standard meal allownance; it's all of one or the other. I'll buy Chet a dinner if I'm wrong in my understanding.