Are You Ready? Personal Prep for Season

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Do you not just take the mileage deduction? Or do you use that car strictly for officiating and document all expenses related to the car?

Note that you can't legally deduct the gas AND take the mileage deduction.

Years ago, I tracked every automotive expense that would be taxable under the actual expenses deduction for both of our cars because there were times I used my car and times when I used my "better half's" car. Unless you are replacing the transmission in every month that has 30 days; replacing the engine in every month that has 31 days; and replacing the tie-rods and brakes in the month that has 28 or 29 days, one's actual expenses cannot come close to the Federal mileage deduction.

For the year that I traced my expenses, my actual expenses came out to be only 55% of the Federal mileage deduction. You cannot beat the mileage deduction.

MTD, Sr.