NT/ Why Do Truck Drivers Think Their Returns

[RitaB]

...or mysterious or something? I hear it two or three times a year, most recently today. Guy pulls in, (driving the truck, no less): "Do you have room for one more client?"

Me: For 2008? No. But, I can get you an extension.

Truck Driver: Do you know anybody who can handle truck driver returns?

Me: Yeah, anybody in town. Here's a copy of the yellow pages.

TD: Gee, thanks! I've been on the road for a month, and my wife is opening a day care, and we've just not had time to deal with this.

OK, what was he doing Jan 1 - Mar 15? And, after hearing about the day care, whew, could there be a worse scenario for whoever got them? Well, maybe a beauty shop...

[kcjenkins]

Sounds like you need to send him to Betty Sue and Jerome.

[joanmcq]

Well, you do have to know the special rates for per diems and the rules for day-in and day out, and the 80% m&E rate, and it helps to know how to read the sheets the companies give the independents, and that the big rigs don't take the standard mileage rate!!!

[RoyDaleOne]

Every tax return is special. Did you not know?

[Eric]

OK, what was he doing Jan 1 - Mar 15?

Doctoring log books and forging toll receipts? Just a guess based on most of the truck drivers I know. :D

[PapaJoe]

Eric, are you sure you don't prepare tax returns? Sounds like you know a lot of the tricks.

[RitaB]

Well, you do have to know the special rates for per diems and the rules for day-in and day out, and the 80% m&E rate, and it helps to know how to read the sheets the companies give the independents, and that the big rigs don't take the standard mileage rate!!!

Yep. You covered the big mystery in 2.5 lines.

[joelgilb]

Yep. You covered the big mystery in 2.5 lines.

I love the tax preparer sites that say you need to go to them as they are experts in doing Trucking or Marine returns and that you can't trust just any professional tax preparer.

Not that hard.

Also, love the people in the boating industries. Have a number of clients from Louisiana (as my wife has family here). They have some crazy belief they can deduct their meals (per diem sched), even though the company feeds them while they are offshore. They also want to take lodging when they have sleeping quarters on the boats. Duh, how much are you paying for that?