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posted Oct 16, 2019 8:25:39 PM

1009 mile deduction

So I have a few questions.  I work for this guy who recently gave me a form to fill for a 1099 I started about a month ago . I drive 70 miles from home there and 70 back every day about 20$ a day in gas . And 10$ if I take the tolls I don’t have a lot of expenses other then that and work tools . Should I be taking the tolls everyday to lower the tax blow ? Would I come out on top more if I did or just save the cash and took the other way ? Can I use these miles to deduct if so how would I do so and track it being I use it for personal use on weekends and after work sometimes? And what other possible deductions could I use I’m young 23 and want to succeed and not loose so much all together with my expenses lately and taxes any help thanks guys .

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4 Replies
Level 15
Oct 16, 2019 8:33:49 PM

Your travel between home and the place where you work is commuting, which is not deductible. You cannot deduct the mileage, tolls, gas, or anything else for commuting. The fact that you have a long commute makes no difference.


Taking toll roads will not "lower the tax blow" because you cannot deduct the tolls. So you'll come out ahead if you avoid the tolls.

Level 15
Oct 17, 2019 7:07:06 AM

That is correct.  The miles you are driving to and from work are commuting miles, and you cannot use them as business expenses, nor can you use the tolls you pay to get to work.  You can only use any miles or tolls  for driving during your work day when you are "on the job."  Miles getting to and from the job do not count.  Are you fully aware of the self-employment tax you will be paying since you are working as an independent contractor without any tax, Social Security or Medicare withheld from your pay? If not, you might have a nasty surprise coming at tax time  Self-Employment tax for Social Security and Medicare will take a 15.3% bite and you will owe ordinary income tax as well.   You need to be saving some of your pay toward the income tax you will owe.

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2893577-does-a-1099-misc-mean-i-m-self-employed

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/self-employed/help/what-is-the-self-employment-tax/00/25922

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2902389-why-am-i-paying-self-employment-tax

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2903027-how-do-i-report-income-from-self-employment

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901110-do-i-need-to-make-estimated-tax-payments-to-the-irs

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/3398950-what-self-employed-expenses-can-i-deduct

Level 15
Oct 17, 2019 7:17:38 AM

@Juanoj96 

Try  this tax caster tool so you will have an idea of what you will owe at tax time:

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/calculators/taxcaster/

 

Level 15
Oct 17, 2019 10:28:09 AM

@Juanoj96 

 

Are you sure you are not an employee ?  Do you punch a time clock or hand in time vouchers  or do you give them an invoice ?     

 

If this is your only "employer" and  this work is not done via a contract then this "employer" may be cheating you and the government ...  

 

https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc762