Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the deadline to file your 2019 federal income tax is now July 15th. Although tax season may be a time a lot of truck drivers dread, it is also a time for drivers to save money by using truck driver tax deductions. The money you spend while on the road might be able to increase the amount of money you get back from your taxes. Staying organized and recording all expenses will definitely pay off when tax time comes.
Keeping track of what you spend for an entire year can be overwhelming. It’s important to stay organized and remember to always keep receipts. There are many apps available on IOS and Android that help keep track of yearly spending.
Some tax breaks apply to only owner operators and some apply to company drivers. It’s a good rule of thumb to get with a tax consultant if you’re unsure of what you can write off on your taxes. Here is a list of deductions you might qualify for.
General Expenses
- Bedding
- Alarm Clock
- Refrigerator
- Truck cab curtains
- First Aid supplies
- Coffee machine
Travel Expenses
- Hotels/Motels
- Fuel
- Showers
- Food
Electronics
- CB Radio
- GPS
- Cell Phone Plan
- ELD
- Cell Phone
- Laptop
- Sirius XM Radio
Note: Some of these items only have a 50% deductible
Cleaning Supplies
- Towels
- Window cleaner
- Trashbags
- Vacuum
- Paper towels
- Hand sanitizer
- Disinfectant spray
- Broom and dustpan
Clothing
- Boots
- Hard Hat
- Rain gear
- Safety glasses
- Thermals
- Gloves
- Hangers
- Uniform
Load Equipment
- Load straps
- Bungee cords
- Load chains
- Locks
- Wide load flags
Tools
- Crowbar
- Duct tape
- Hammer
- Pliers
- Screwdriver
- Flashlight
- Tire iron
- Wrench
Personal Products
- Soap
- Toothpaste
- Razors
- Laundry detergent
- Shampoo
- Shower shoes
If you are unsure of what you can or cannot include in your truck driver tax deductions, we recommend hiring a professional to help. It will cost some money, but it will save you much more money in the long run.
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