Question

Deducting miles for driving to work. im an electrician and i bounce to different job sites every month or so. my commute is about an hour 15 every day

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
June 3, 2019
2 replies
0 views

it made my return go up a lot and im scared of getting audited later in life

TurboTax Free Edition Online

You can deduct your business miles only. Commuting miles are not deductible.

Commuting miles are defined by the IRS as the mileage between your home and your regular work place and back.

If you do not have a regular work place, then the mileage between your home and your first work location inside the same metropolitan area is considered commuting miles. If the first work location is outside your metropolitan area, then the mileage from home is deductible. Mileage between work locations during the day is deductible.

You will need to keep an accurate log of your mileage.

Please read this IRS document for further guidance:

https://www.irs.gov/publications/p463/ch04.html

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B

bchi1226

can you deduct schooling, tools, car maintenance, and tolls for that year also?

tygrtchr

Employee

You don't say, but I'm assuming you work for an employer. Driving to and from work are considered commuting miles IF you are at home every night. Those miles are not deductible.

If the work location requires you to be away from home for an extended period of night (where you need a hotel room, etc.) the excess miles (more than your daily commuting miles) are deductible.

X

xmasbaby0

Employee

@bchi1226

If you are a W-2 employee then job-related expenses are not deductible on your federal tax return--per the tax laws that changed for 2018 and beyond:

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/4482873-which-federal-tax-deductions-have-been-suspended-by-tax-reform

If you are an independent contractor then business expenses go on your Schedule C. Commuting miles (driving to and from work) are not deductible.

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**

X

xmasbaby0

Employee

@bchi1226 You added on to someone else's old post. It is sometimes difficult to interpret "add-on" questions. What was your question regarding "schooling?" Are you in college or some other school after high school? Are you asking about education credits?

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**