Communing miles that I can deduct?

[Nomad5]

Hello,

I drive about 54,000 miles a year.  I am self employed, however, I drive to Socal from North cal about twice a month to work at a job site as a contractor (w-2).  From base to hotel and back ,  during the week about 100 miles a day (18 days a month) give or take.  I figure I can deduct most all of it since my home is 400 miles away at least 80 percent of it.    During that time I stay at a hotel so I also deduct all my food , etc, as travel expenses.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated. 

Thank you!

[Bsch4477]

You posted that you receive an W-2.  Unfortunately, most people can’t deduct any current expenses for the business use of their own car. Before the 2018 tax year, workers could deduct unreimbursed business expenses as a “miscellaneous itemized deduction” to the extent all miscellaneous deductions exceed 2% of adjusted gross income. However, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 suspended this deduction for most workers for the 2018 to 2025 tax years. So if you are a W-2 employee for that job your only recourse is to ask your employer to reimburse you for those expenses. 

Your state rules may recognize that deduction under the old rules. 

[Nomad5]

Thank you so much!

[xmasbaby0]

W-2 employees cannot deduct job-related expenses on a federal return.  Job-related expenses were eliminated as a federal deduction for W-2 employees by the tax laws that changed for 2018 and beyond.  Your state tax laws might be different in AL, AR, CA, HI, MN, NY or PA.

If you live in a state that lets you deduct job-related expenses, the information will flow from your federal return  to the state return, so enter it in Federal>Deductions and Credits>Employment Expenses>Job-Related Expenses

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-credits-deductions/employees-deduct-...