I travel as a photographer. I get a W2. I am reimbursed at $.30 a mile. I have completed my return (but not filed) and I need to go back and include the difference between $.30 given and $.54 allowed for 4100 miles driven in 2016. I have looked at other answers that have been posted, but i can't find specific instructions for how enter this after i have completed entering my income and expenses using turbo tax premiere. Do I have to list my car on the return or can I just enter mileage expense without tying the car to the business/occupation?
Yes, you do have to enter information about your car in order to claim the mileage differential.
Employee business expenses are reported on Form 2106, which goes on Schedule A Itemized Deductions. Further, it is in the miscellaneous itemized deduction category that is limited by 2% of your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). This means that if you are not using itemized deductions and if the expense you are claiming does not exceed 2% of your AGI, it will not make a difference in your refund or balance due.
Given that information and the numbers you mentioned, your employee business expense based only on the mileage would be (4100 x 0.24) = $984. This may help you decide if it is worthwhile to enter the information into your return.
Use these steps to get started entering Form 2106:
On the top row of the TurboTax online screen, click on Search (or for CD/downloaded TurboTax locate the search box in the upper right corner)
This opens a box where you can type in “2106” (be sure to enter exactly as shown here) and click the magnifying glass (or for CD/downloaded TurboTax, click Find)
The search results will give you an option to “Jump to 2106”
After the expenses have been entered, you will enter your reimbursements and the resulting difference will be claimed on Form 2106.