mileage one way or round trip
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Round trip. And it should be a contemporaneous written record. That means, you recorded the actual beginning and ending mileage for every trip you made for MS, at the time that you made it. HOWEVER, there is a whole different set of rules if you were commuting to a regular job (W-2 job) in the same trip as was used for a MS assignment.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
And I calculate only the trip from point A to point B to point C and back home if I am doing 2 shops on the same day on the same trip. Not round trip from home for each of them. A being home, B being the first shop and C the second shop.
Do not count on me as doing it correctly though. Those are just the rules I use.
You probably are not asking this but just a clarification for those who are thinking of calculating each shop distance from home and back.
Do not count on me as doing it correctly though. Those are just the rules I use.
You probably are not asking this but just a clarification for those who are thinking of calculating each shop distance from home and back.
Sandy is doing it correctly. Thank you for clarifying. My answer was ambiguous on that issue.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
My accountant accepts a beginning and ending annual milage and a total business milage number. SHe has the breakdown of every day's milage but I don't write beginning and ending milage down every day.
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Technically Sandy's method is correct if one has a home office. Otherwise the drive to the first store and the drive home are commuter milage and do not count.
Hoju's method can be used under some circumstances, but it is best to check with your accountant.
I recommend using a milage tracking app that tracks milage automatically. If you use your car for both business and personal use, be sure to mark each trip with the appropriate category.
Disclaimer--I am not an accountant but I play one on T.V.
Hoju's method can be used under some circumstances, but it is best to check with your accountant.
I recommend using a milage tracking app that tracks milage automatically. If you use your car for both business and personal use, be sure to mark each trip with the appropriate category.
Disclaimer--I am not an accountant but I play one on T.V.
I use a device called Automatic that plugs into the OBD port in the car and just stays there. When I’m doing my daily work tracking, all I have to do is go into the app and it tells me my exact milage for each trip that day.
Effortless and works great.
Effortless and works great.
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
stormraven,
Sorry, but one does not have to claim a home office deduction in order to claim round trip mileage for and entire MS loops trip. Unless one is traveling to the site of a W-2 job there is no such thing as "commuter" mileage involved in computing MS mileage !
This has been established many, many times here, along with the correct IRS citation. No doubt, the folks with backgrounds in accounting and tax prep will be along soon to conform this.
Sorry, but one does not have to claim a home office deduction in order to claim round trip mileage for and entire MS loops trip. Unless one is traveling to the site of a W-2 job there is no such thing as "commuter" mileage involved in computing MS mileage !
This has been established many, many times here, along with the correct IRS citation. No doubt, the folks with backgrounds in accounting and tax prep will be along soon to conform this.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
I keep a datebook (cheap and bought at a local Dollar Store).
For each month there are 2 pages of the days of that year's month.
I just write in on the day I traveled, the furthest shop and the overall mileage accumulated according to the start and end of my car's odometer. I total the mileage and the amount of shops I did at the end of the week and mark it down.
At the end of the month, I total the weeks of the month and note that as well.
At the end of the year, I total the mileage and report that as my mileage for tax purposes. I file the datebook with all my other tax information as a my record.
For each month there are 2 pages of the days of that year's month.
I just write in on the day I traveled, the furthest shop and the overall mileage accumulated according to the start and end of my car's odometer. I total the mileage and the amount of shops I did at the end of the week and mark it down.
At the end of the month, I total the weeks of the month and note that as well.
At the end of the year, I total the mileage and report that as my mileage for tax purposes. I file the datebook with all my other tax information as a my record.
I do it the old-fashioned way using my odometer for each shop. It's become a habit to reset it everywhere I go.
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The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
I keep a wall calendar (yes, I'm a dinosaur) with my jobs marked on it, then post my mileage to the proper square when I get home. It makes it really easy to total for tax purposes and is a good record of each shop and its mileage.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
dupe post deleted
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/23/2019 07:34PM by BirdyC.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/23/2019 07:34PM by BirdyC.
dupe post deleted
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/23/2019 07:35PM by BirdyC.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/23/2019 07:35PM by BirdyC.
dupe post deleted
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/23/2019 07:34PM by BirdyC.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/23/2019 07:34PM by BirdyC.
There seems to be a glitch..a glitch..a glitch..a glitch
edited for spelling error..duh
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/24/2019 10:25AM by MsJudi.
edited for spelling error..duh
*****************************************************************************
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/24/2019 10:25AM by MsJudi.
There was definitely a glitch this morning. I replied to a different thread and my computer was trying to contact the forum for over 30 minutes to add my reply to the list. I only clicked again once but was tempted to keep clicking.
I am detailed oriented and because I am dismayed at the poor mileage my Prius gets which does not match at all with the mpg the car computer gives me I keep my mileage for each trip I make in the car and restart my list every time I fill up. Then I put it all into my spreadsheet once a month. I am fanatical in that way. But I have my stating mileage and date noted for each new tank and if the IRS ever contacts me I can pretty much zero in on which trips were for mystery shopping based on the mileage and where in that tank of gas dates it fell.. It will take some work to reconstruct if the IRS every contacts me but so far they have not. I do have the data tho if I ever need it.
I am detailed oriented and because I am dismayed at the poor mileage my Prius gets which does not match at all with the mpg the car computer gives me I keep my mileage for each trip I make in the car and restart my list every time I fill up. Then I put it all into my spreadsheet once a month. I am fanatical in that way. But I have my stating mileage and date noted for each new tank and if the IRS ever contacts me I can pretty much zero in on which trips were for mystery shopping based on the mileage and where in that tank of gas dates it fell.. It will take some work to reconstruct if the IRS every contacts me but so far they have not. I do have the data tho if I ever need it.
What the h*ll? I was having all kinds of trouble with this site this morning, but it told me that I had tried to post a (as in one) duplicate post, and that wasn't allowed. So I "assumed" there was only one. Sigh.
Glitch is right! Off to empty the dupes.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/23/2019 07:33PM by BirdyC.
Glitch is right! Off to empty the dupes.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/23/2019 07:33PM by BirdyC.
Not according to my accountant. I count from the first mile to the last.@stormraven73 wrote:
Technically Sandy's method is correct if one has a home office. Otherwise the drive to the first store and the drive home are commuter mileage and do not count.
"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams
Birdy, someone else owns up to being a "dinosaur"?
Thank you -- from the bottom of my pea-pickin', shriveled up, lil ole' dinosaur heart!!!
Thank you -- from the bottom of my pea-pickin', shriveled up, lil ole' dinosaur heart!!!
@ceasesmith wrote:
Birdy, someone else owns up to being a "dinosaur"?
Thank you -- from the bottom of my pea-pickin', shriveled up, lil ole' dinosaur heart!!!
LOL! But, really, if I were to ever get audited, all I need to do is whip out my calendar, and everything's right there. I do use electronic record-keeping for many, many things. But, at least for me, marker on paper works best for keeping mileage records. Set the odometer to zero when I leave, note the mileage when I get home, and mark it on the calendar. Easy-peasy. I've tried keeping a spreadsheet, using "Notes" in my phone, etc. But none of those give me an easy "at-a-glance" record.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/24/2019 09:22AM by BirdyC.
My dad taught me (ugh, like in the sixties -- you know, the "1960s"? )-- to keep a written mileage record in a tiny notebook right in the car. Instant record keeping!
Do you all have notes paper clipped to the sides of the calendar? I seem to remember people doing that before post-it notes.
I seem to remember people doing that before post-it notes.Kim
@iShop123 wrote:
Not according to my accountant. I count from the first mile to the last.@stormraven73 wrote:
Technically Sandy's method is correct if one has a home office. Otherwise the drive to the first store and the drive home are commuter mileage and do not count.
According to my accountant, while technically a home office is not *required,* if one does not claim home office expenses, the IRS could require some proof in an audit that it is where you regularly conduct business...hard to prove if you don't establish a home office. Without proof they can disallow the milage
Storm, if you're ever planning to sell your home, the "home office" is probably not worth it.
"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams
Simple to show the IRS that "home" is where you access all of the MS sites to look for, ask for, access to shops, write your reports, receive and mailed payments, print any needed forms, download pictures, store any files (paper or online) related to your MS business, etc. . You do NOT have to show that you meet clients there !!! Your accountant may not understand IC businesses that do not include client access to the home "office." You are NOT required to claim the HO deduction when you operate a business from your home.
Do not drink that Koolaid.
Do not drink that Koolaid.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
I would think a home office deduction requires a lot more proof than simply showing that is where you work. Also, the impact of a home office deduction on income taxes after the sale of a home is often overstated. If you have lived in the home at least two of the five years before the sale, you would have to make around $250,000 in profit ($500,000 for couples) on the home sale before the home office deduction would even be a factor.
I was not talking about the proof needed for a home office deduction. I was talking about proving that your home is your place of business and taking mileage from it to, and back from MS assignments. BIG difference.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
@iShop123 wrote:
Storm, if you're ever planning to sell your home, the "home office" is probably not worth it.
I disagree, and heartily. I made a nice profit for 2018, and was able to take the home-office deduction, including the deduction for the proportional amount of my utilities. That resulted in a break-even situation and a nice refund.
We're selling our house soon, and my tax guy says the implications of the home-office deduction over the 12 years we've owned this home will be minimal.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I suppose it depends upon how much you're selling your home for, how long you've had it, etc. My tax guy said the opposite. Glad to hear that you're able to take it.@BirdyC wrote:
@iShop123 wrote:
Storm, if you're ever planning to sell your home, the "home office" is probably not worth it.
I disagree, and heartily. I made a nice profit for 2018, and was able to take the home-office deduction, including the deduction for the proportional amount of my utilities. That resulted in a break-even situation and a nice refund.
We're selling our house soon, and my tax guy says the implications of the home-office deduction over the 12 years we've owned this home will be minimal.
"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams
@iShop123 wrote:
I suppose it depends upon how much you're selling your home for, how long you've had it, etc. My tax guy said the opposite. Glad to hear that you're able to take it.
Yes; I think it depends on each person's own situation. We're not in an area where houses sell for mega-bucks and appreciate so much that we're looking at much of a profit. For us, that deduction has been a huge benefit financially.
Really, the bottom line is that anyone who's self-employed needs a good tax person and specific advice on things like the home-office deduction, what equipment to depreciate and what not to, and so on.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/24/2019 07:36PM by BirdyC.
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