Deducting miles for driving to work. im an electrician and i bounce to different job sites every month or so. my commute is about an hour 15 every day

[undeadmilkshake]

it made my return go up a lot and im scared of getting audited later in life

[MinhT]

You can deduct your business miles only. Commuting miles are not deductible.

Commuting miles are defined by the IRS as the mileage between your home and your regular work place and back.

If you do not have a regular work place, then the mileage between your home and your first work location inside the same metropolitan area is considered commuting miles. If the first work location is outside your metropolitan area, then the mileage from home is deductible. Mileage between work locations during the day is deductible.

You will need to keep an accurate log of your mileage.

Please read this IRS document for further guidance:

https://www.irs.gov/publications/p463/ch04.html

[bchi1226]

can you deduct schooling, tools, car maintenance, and tolls for that year also?

[tygrtchr]

You don't say, but I'm assuming you work for an employer.  Driving to and from work are considered commuting miles IF you are at home every night. Those miles are not deductible.

If the work location requires you to be away from home for an extended period of night (where you need a hotel room, etc.) the excess miles (more than your daily commuting miles) are deductible.

[xmasbaby0]

@bchi1226

 If you are a W-2 employee then job-related expenses are not deductible on your federal tax return--per the tax laws that changed for 2018 and beyond:

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/4482873-which-federal-tax-deductions-have-been-suspended-by-tax-re...

If you are an independent contractor then business expenses go on your Schedule C.  Commuting miles (driving to and from work) are not deductible.

[xmasbaby0]

@bchi1226 You added on to someone else's old post.  It is sometimes difficult to interpret "add-on" questions.  What was your question regarding "schooling?"  Are you in college or some other school after high school?  Are you asking about education credits?  

[bchi1226]

So with the tax laws that changed in 2018 I wouldn't even be able to deduct my business mileage on my own personal vehicle from the first jobsite to my second..etc. (excluding commute to and from work)? What if my first stop is in another city?

I am an employee of a company that does not reimburse me for mileage whatsoever.

What I mean by schooling is trade related classes I pay for myself as an electrician.

[bchi1226]

Sorry, new here. Just looking for some answers. Didn't mean to bump someone else's post.

[xmasbaby0]

@bchi1226 You did not "bump" a post---you just added to another old one and it's hard to figure out your questions and know how closely they relate to the thread already started by someone else.    No, if you are an employee who receives a W2 then none of your mileage is deductible on your federal tax return.  You might want to negotiate that with your employer and see if they will compensate you somehow.  

You might be able to use the Lifetime Learning credit for the classes you are taking:

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/credits-and-deductions/help/what-expenses-qualify-for-the-lifetime...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/3262984-who-is-eligible-for-the-lifetime-learning-credit

[xmasbaby0]

@bchi1226 Not sure what kind of school you are attending--here is some other information about education credits.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901172-what-are-education-tax-credits

https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/am-i-eligible-to-claim-an-education-credit

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901172-what-education-tax-credits-are-available

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/3262983-who-is-eligible-to-take-the-american-opportunity-tax-credi...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901526-what-s-the-income-limit-for-the-american-opportunity-and-l...