[layoutshooter]

When my truck breaks down on the road and it has to be in the shop for several days I rent a car for transportaton. IS that rental deductable? Layoutshooter

[highway star]

I rented one to go home when I was broke down. My CPA asked me about it, if I had used it to move some freight. Since I hadn't, he thought it wouldn't be deductable. When I said that a motel would have been about the same price, he said that made sense and we used the deduction.

[layoutshooter]

Did the IRS give you any trouble over it? Layoutshooter

[highway star]

I haven't been audited.

[layoutshooter]

Good to hear, we are ALWAYS looking for a way to pay less in taxes and use our money to improve our business. Layoutshooter

[Crazynuff]

Originally Posted by layoutshooter

When my truck breaks down on the road and it has to be in the shop for several days I rent a car for transportaton. IS that rental deductable? Layoutshooter

I'd say if it was all off duty it would private use and not deductible . Did you log any on duty time while using the rental ? I think if an FMCSA auditor and an IRS auditor ever got together and compared HOS with deductions it would cause a lot of headaches .

[terryandrene]

I'm with crazy on this one. Log it; deduct it. If you used the rental to transport and or safeguard your business equipment such as GPS, CB, computer, BOLS and logs, as well as your personal stuff, you'd have a legitimate reason to deduct the "necessary for business use of the rental." The cost avoidance of a hotel bill rationale is pretty lame.

[layoutshooter]

We have never done this as yet. We did have to rent a car 2 weeks ago when the truck was in the shop. There we no motels in walking distance and the shop did not have a shuttle. We were not able to stay in the truck since it was being worked on. We were kinda without a good choice. Was just wondering out loud. I will be sending a email to our tax guy for his advice. I sort of think of it as a business expense but who knows for sure.
Layoutshooter

[ATeam]

Originally Posted by layoutshooter

When my truck breaks down on the road and it has to be in the shop for several days I rent a car for transportaton. IS that rental deductable?

Yes it is.

[layoutshooter]

Thanks Phil,

I kinda would think it would have to be, but then again, I always get in trouble when I think!!! Layoutshooter

[TeamCaffee]

When we went to Kansas City for our class the hotel was deductable and also per diem for those days. We are also able to deduct the mileage we put on our car from the time we left the house till we got back. We will also be taking perdiem for those days. That is the plan at this time unless at the end of the year our account tells us we cannot do it this way.

[layoutshooter]

I would think that would be fine. A business related expense. The more deductions the better. Layoutshooter

[highway star]

Originally Posted by terryandrene

The cost avoidance of a hotel bill rationale is pretty lame.

Why would it be lame? Had I stayed in a motel, and away from home, there would have been per diem. I saved the government some money. And, Lord knows, they need all the help they can get!

[terryandrene]

There are two separate and distict events being discussed. Deductions for an auto rental and deductions for a hotel. For a taxpayer to suggest that he could have taken a legitimate deduction for a hotel, but since he didn't, he can take this other deduction whether authorized or not. Each deduction must be authorized on it's own merit; that's why I said it's a lame excuse to use the avoidance of one expense to justify an unrelated deduction...just an opinion.

I think that some scenarios of a deduction for a rental vehicle are allowable and some may not be. You may be able to justify a rental to go home while repairs are being effected to the truck, but any personal use of the vehicle while home is not deductable...just another opinion.

[layoutshooter]

Taxes in general suck. They are not here to help us get ahead in anyway. I think we should tax by use to sociaity insted of by how much you earn. Congressmen and Senators would pay the highest rate since they are the most useless etc.!!! I hope to hear from my tax guy on this question later in the week. Layoutshooter