Vehicle Tax Question

[WImom]

If I don't transport but use my vehicle for daycare groceries, supplies, bank trips, etc. what can I claim? Gas, insurance, payment interest? Any or all of that?

[Blackcat31]

Originally Posted by WImom

If I don't transport but use my vehicle for daycare groceries, supplies, bank trips, etc. what can I claim? Gas, insurance, payment interest? Any or all of that?

I am sure Tom will correct me if I am wrong, but I am pretty sure, you can ONLY claim mileage for daycare related trips only. No insurance, gas costs or payment interest...strictly mileage for trips that are necessary for daycare such as getting daycare supplies, food or bank trips to cash/deposit DC payment. .

[Michael]

More mileage deduction threads here: http://daycare.com/forum/tags.php?ta...ction+-+milage

[TomCopeland]

Originally Posted by WImom

If I don't transport but use my vehicle for daycare groceries, supplies, bank trips, etc. what can I claim? Gas, insurance, payment interest? Any or all of that?

You don't have to be transporting children to be able to claim expenses for your vehicle. Any trip you take in which the "primary" purpose is business counts as a business trip. This includes trips to grocery stories, department stores, banks, etc.
You can either use the standard mileage rate or the actual expenses method to claim expenses. The actual expenses method allows you to claim the business portion of gas, insurance, oil, repairs, car loan interest, depreciation, etc. The standard mileage rate is $.51 for Jan-June and $.555 for July- Dec. plus you can claim the business portion of car loan interest, car property tax, and parking expenses.

[KEG123]

Originally Posted by TomCopeland

You don't have to be transporting children to be able to claim expenses for your vehicle. Any trip you take in which the "primary" purpose is business counts as a business trip. This includes trips to grocery stories, department stores, banks, etc.
You can either use the standard mileage rate or the actual expenses method to claim expenses. The actual expenses method allows you to claim the business portion of gas, insurance, oil, repairs, car loan interest, depreciation, etc. The standard mileage rate is $.51 for Jan-June and $.555 for July- Dec. plus you can claim the business portion of car loan interest, car property tax, and parking expenses.

Say i do all my shopping (daycare and family) 1x a week, and say its 4 miles round trip, could i claim 2 miles as business?

[TomCopeland]

Originally Posted by KEG123

Say i do all my shopping (daycare and family) 1x a week, and say its 4 miles round trip, could i claim 2 miles as business?

No. You can't claim part of a trip. Instead, claim 4 miles for one trip every other week.

[TomCopeland]

Originally Posted by KEG123

Say i do all my shopping (daycare and family) 1x a week, and say its 4 miles round trip, could i claim 2 miles as business?

No. You can't claim part of a trip. Instead, claim 4 miles for one trip every other week.

[KEG123]

Originally Posted by TomCopeland

No. You can't claim part of a trip. Instead, claim 4 miles for one trip every other week.

Thank you Tom!

[care-care]

every week i go to the grocery store and buy food etc. but becuz i dont use my reciepts and take the write off per meal amount i throw them away.. so then I cant claim for trips to store in mileage then??/

[TomCopeland]

Originally Posted by care-care

every week i go to the grocery store and buy food etc. but becuz i dont use my reciepts and take the write off per meal amount i throw them away.. so then I cant claim for trips to store in mileage then??/

No. You can claim mileage for these trips. You need an "adequate" record to show you were at the grocery store. This could be a receipt, but it could also be a cancelled check, credit card statement, or notation on a calendar. Don't give up simply because you don't have the receipt.

[care-care]

So If I go through my bank statments and Note my trips to the grocery store I can use that ? He eats everything we eat. I shop for everything together but I wasnt saving reciepts becuz i take the standard meal allowance. So would I be able to deduct the milage to the store say like every other like my bank deposit trips?

[TomCopeland]

Yes, your check register or bank statements can be used as an "adequate" record to show you made trips to grocery stores. Yes, claim every other trip is a reasonable way to claim such trips.