I know my Uber mileage for 2016. I don't know what to put in "Total Commuting Miles" under "How do you want to enter your mileage for your [car make]." Please help.

[Jquez]

First, I apologize for this extensive question....

I drove for Uber. I know my start (20,610 miles) and end (34,324 miles) odometer readings for 2016. Often, after finishing my substitute teaching job at various schools, I did a drive or two before heading home. I never counted the mileage from that school to my first rider pick up. I did keep track of miles between drop-offs and consecutive pick-ups (45 miles). I also kept track of the mileage from the last rides to my home (219 miles). It sounds like I can deduct these both. Is that correct?

Uber's summary sheet shows that I drove 244 miles while on trips. In TurboTax Home and Business, I don't know what to put in "Total Commuting Miles" under "How do you want to enter your mileage for your [car make]." I commuted to different schools and to another job driving buses but didn't keep track of that mileage.

I put 508 (219+45+244) in the box for "Miles driven for this business." Again, I didn't count miles from my home to the first pick up or from a school (other job) to a pick-up.

Also, since Uber drives are all temporary, and my "business" is always away from my home, is the job considered to be temporary or indefinite?

Please help. Thank you.

[MichaelDC · Accepted solution]

You can't deduct the miles you drive from home to your first business-related stop or from your last business stop to home. Generally speaking, your first and last trips are your commute and the rest are deductible business miles.

Driving from one school to another school is deductible as is driving from your home to a temporary location for your main job. Also deductible is to go from school to your first Uber pickup.

Also, Uber’s breakdown in their dashboard gives you the total miles you drove while driving passengers. However, you can also write off mileage from:

• Driving around waiting for ride requests
• Driving to a passenger after receiving a ride request

Uber doesn’t track the mileage for these extra commutes, so you’ll be responsible for keeping records on this mileage through an accounting software or similar service.

The temporary assignment rules don't apply to you unless you're away from your tax home "or where you make the most money."

Here the rest of what's deductible, if we missed anything:

• Your trip between your home and your regular or main job is never deductible.
• A trip between your home and temporary work location is deductible if your main job is at another location.
• Your commute between home and second job is never deductible on a day off from your main job.
• Your trip between your regular job and temporary job is always deductible.
• Your trips between your main and second job are deductible.
• Your trips between temporary work locations and a second job.

You might also find this helpful regarding your Uber business:

https://ttlc.intuit.com/replies/5796507

[Jquez]

Thank you Michael. Much appreciated!

[MichaelDC]

More than a pleasure! Hope it helped.

[Jquez]

Hello again Michael. I have a couple other pertinent questions. I am using TurboTax Home and Business because TurboTax staff told me that is what I needed. I also see other staff recommending TurboTax Self-Employment. Should I have used the latter?

Next, once I turn on the Uber app, even if I am leaving my driveway, I can begin counting my miles, correct?

Finally, I'm hoping you can explain a bit more to me about the Uber fees. You seem very knowledgeable about this. On the Uber Tax Summary page, I have tolls, safe rides fee, airport fee and booking fees listed under my Gross Fares. My gross fares were $406. My tolls were a negative number -$12.00. The total of all of these comes to $488. Under the 1099-MISC breakdown (I did not receive this form), there is incentive income of $27. Under "Other Potential Deductions" I see the Uber Service Fee of $85.

Do I add $406 and $27 for my total income where it asks for 1099-K forms in TurboTax or do I put $488+27 in that line? The -$12.00 throws me off, too. For the Uber Service fee of $85, do I put that with the other fees under "Other Common Business Expenses?"

Also, I can't see the screenshot you said you added. Thank you a bunch for all your help!
Jason

[MichaelDC]

Sorry for the delay in getting back. Just starting my week after a 2 day break. You can use either one, but  TurboTax Self-Employed, an online product, includes a 1-year subscription to QuickBooks Self-Employed. This lets you track your self-employed or small business expenses throughout the year so you can easily import them at tax time.
Also, because Self-Employed is only online, it works on mobile devices and tablets with an internet connection for anytime, anywhere access. Home & Business is only available as a CD or download, and requires a desktop or laptop computer for installation, although it can handle some uncommon situations that aren't possible in the online version.
I suspect the $27 is included in the $406. I'm attaching the screenshot for the instruct.
Tolls should be included separately in the Vehicle Expense interview. The Uber Service fee does go under "Other Common Business Expenses" then "Commissions & Fees"  section.