How do I get turbo tax to fix something they got wrong? dot meals are covered out of pocket as per multiple irs publications and tax preparers who also work for irs...

[heyoh]

they wont count my meals towards my deduction... google it and you can find that even with the new tax bill employees meals are still covered for dot employees up to 50%... they allow me to put the numbers in for my state taxes but it does not count towards my federal... I am 100% sure that this deduction still is available as per google and every one of my coworkers who have a tax preparer also agrees they are covered this year. the irs website even added the new 2018/2019 per diem for it, how do I convince turbotax to update the meal deduction and allow it to count? I really don't have to have to amend another return this year like I did last year with the pmi deduction...

[Lisa995]

Are you a W2 employee, or self employed?

[heyoh]

W2 covered as a dot employee

[Lisa995]

You may want to do a little research, they took those employee deductions away with the new tax laws for 2018.
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.nonforceddispatch.com/truck-drivers-per-diem-2018">https://www.nonforceddispatch.com/tru...>

Many states will still allow it though.

[Opus 17]

Are you a statutory employee?

[heyoh]

ive done a ton of research both from the web and from coworkers who have tax professionals all agree still deductible... meals while traveling <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://bakertilly.com/insights/meals-and-entertainment-expenses-for-2018/">https://bakertilly.com/i...> there are literally hundreds of websites that agree... also directly from the horse mouth <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-issues-guidance-on-tax-cuts-and-jobs-act-changes-on-business-expens...> … how do I convince turbotax they are wrong? send them the direct irs link?

[heyoh]

"Taxpayers may continue to deduct 50 percent of the cost of business meals if the taxpayer (or an employee of the taxpayer) is present and the food or beverages are not considered lavish or extravagant" irs website if you don't want to go to the link lol

[Opus 17]

All itemized deductions from schedule A that were subject to the 2% rule are eliminated. Period.

These costs are still deductible for self-employed and independent contractors when reported on schedule C.  Are you a W-2 employee, statutory employee, or independent contractor?

[Opus 17]

Compared to the old rules regarding meals and entertainment, business-related entertainment is no longer deductible but business-related meals are.  Separately however, all schedule A misc itemized deductions subject to the 2% rule are eliminated.  


Check the schedule A form and instructions.

<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-a-form-1040">https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-sche...>

No miscellaneous itemized deductions allowed. You can no longer claim any miscellaneous itemized deductions, in- cluding the deduction for unreimbursed job expenses. Miscellaneous itemized deductions are those deductions that would have been subject to the 2 percent of adjusted gross income limitation. See Line 16, later, for a list of other itemized deductions you can still claim in addi- tion to the ones claimed using lines 1 through 15.

Business expenses are only deductible if you use schedule C.

[Lisa995]

"50 percent of the cost of business meals if the taxpayer (or an employee of the taxpayer)"

This is referring to your boss and their business (youre the employee) so your boss can continue to deduct meals for you.

[heyoh]

<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.schencksc.com/education-center/articles/2018-meals-and-entertainment-deductions">https:/...>

[Lisa995]

That's referring to self employed people taking deductions for themselves and their employees, this is not referring to employees that receive a W2 taking deductions.

[heyoh]

<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc511">https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc511</a> either way finally found a phone number and talked to them directly they said they are updating on the 17th and should all be fixed to what they feel is correct... so I guess we shall see

[heyoh]

^was updated jan 31st 2018 so has to be correct

[Lisa995]

No, you'd want it to be updated late in 2018 for it to be current information.