Tax people of SVTP, can I write off a mode of transportation to work?

[Serpent]

I want to get this:
b8ta: Retail store designed for trying & buying new tech products. But at the current price $1700, it is really hard to justify when I can use that for my big brake kit budget.

Anyways, can this be written off on my taxes because I will be using it only maybe 90% for work (5x a week)? My work is under 5 miles round trip. The difference between this and the other electric boards is this can go off road, on grass, it is also more nimble, just not as fast.

 

[nxhappy]

I don't think so. That would be like trying to write off a bicycle. Pretty sure you can only write off motor powered road vehicles.

 

[Blown 89]

Call your accountant. If you use it for work you may be able to write off a percentage off it.

And yes, you can write off a bicycle for work:
Is This Deductible? Biking, Driving, and Busing to Work?

 

[nxhappy]

all be damned, $20 a month lol. better than a kick in the ass i suppose.

 

[Sinister04L]

The new tax code is going to make it more difficult to itemize anything because of the rise in standard deductions.

 

[MG0h3]

As far as I know you can't deduct your travel to and from work. If you are driving your vehicle to conduct business, yes.

Never looked into it though; had a work supplied vehicle for over a decade.

 

[Machdup1]

Its more nuanced than this, but:

• Your trip between your home and your regular or main job is never deductible
• A trip between your home and temporary work location is deductible if your main job is at another location
• Your commute between home and a second job is never deductible on a day off from your main job
• Your trip between your regular job and temporary job is always deductible
• You can deduct trips between your main and second job
• You can always deduct drives between temporary work locations and a second job.
• Having a deductible home office makes many “commute” drives into business drives
• Remember all of these rules have sub-rules, contact your CPA for how these rules apply to your situation.

 

[jrandy]

Another relevant piece of information would be what you do for a living, OP.

 

[Voltwings]

As others have said, a commute is not deductible.

 

[RedRocketMike]

Everyone I know working in the trades writes off their mileage with ease. Including me for a time. "regular" jobs can't.

 

[tistan]

Everyone I know working in the trades writes off their mileage with ease. Including me for a time. "regular" jobs can't.

That is because they have a home office or a company only vehicle, and as soon as they get into their vehicle they are on the job.

 

[RedRocketMike]

That is because they have a home office or a company only vehicle, and as soon as they get into their vehicle they are on the job.

Sure they do. LOL

 

[tistan]

Sure they do. LOL

I'm not sure what you mean by this, but being that I am a general contractor and have many friends in the trades, I think I have a little more insight than most.

 

[RedRocketMike]

I'm not sure what you mean by this, but being that I am a general contractor and have many friends in the trades, I think I have a little more insight than most.

You missed the humor, but we're talking about employees not business owners. 98% (or whatever) of tradesmen are just employees and don't have an office or a company vehicle. I worked for one of the largest non-union commercial electrical contractors for over a decade. Every field employee, including myself, wrote off all their work mileage on their personal vehicles. The reason they we are allowed to do so is the requirement to bring tools/materials to and from a work location, creates additional expenses. Can't ride the bus if you have to bring all your 20v dewalt gear. In reality most just drive to and from a job site just like a teacher drives to a school, tools are in a gangbox or whatever. But the tax loophole allows it. Most take advantage of it. I know dozens of guys writing off 30k miles a year on 120-140k plus earnings.

I still remember fighting with my accountant because it took a while before I found out I was missing out on this exploit. Can't remember if I demanded a look back or not.

 

[tistan]

You missed the humor, but we're talking about employees not business owners. 98% (or whatever) of tradesmen are just employees and don't have an office or a company vehicle. I worked for one of the largest non-union commercial electrical contractors for over a decade. Every field employee, including myself, wrote off all their work mileage on their personal vehicles. The reason they we are allowed to do so is the requirement to bring tools/materials to and from a work location, creates additional expenses. Can't ride the bus if you have to bring all your 20v dewalt gear. In reality most just drive to and from a job site just like a teacher drives to a school, tools are in a gangbox or whatever. But the tax loophole allows it. Most take advantage of it. I know dozens of guys writing off 30k miles a year on 120-140k plus earnings.

I still remember fighting with my accountant because it took a while before I found out I was missing out on this exploit. Can't remember if I demanded a look back or not.

I hope they kept log books. I always did when I worked for someone else. Not saying that I didn't fake it a good bit, but at least I had record in case I ever got an audit. I usually had a job site near my house that I would claim as my first stop and last stop.