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mrmreck
New Member

I bought a used vehicle for the sole intention to drive for Uber and Lyft. Can I write off the cost of the vehicle since it is solely for business purposes?

I bought the vehicle for apprx $2600 for the sole purpose of driving with uber and lyft and spent another 2-3k in various repairs. Since the vehicle is only used for business purposes will I be able to deduct the cost of the vehicle along with the repairs? 

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9 Replies

I bought a used vehicle for the sole intention to drive for Uber and Lyft. Can I write off the cost of the vehicle since it is solely for business purposes?

You have the option to use the Standard Mileage Rate or the Actual Expenses for your vehicle.  If you use the Actual Expenses, yes, you can deduct the cost and the repairs (plus cost of gasoline, maintenance, etc.).

However, that may not be your best option.

If you ever want to use the Standard Mileage Rate for that vehicle, it needs to be used for the first year.  Uber and Lyft drivers tend to drive a lot of miles, and in most cases with extremely high miles, the Standard Mileage Rate works out better.

I bought a used vehicle for the sole intention to drive for Uber and Lyft. Can I write off the cost of the vehicle since it is solely for business purposes?

FYI here's a write up I made for newly Self Employed people.  It might be of interest.

Tax Tips for Uber, Lyft, Sidecar and other Car Sharing Drivers FAQ
 <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/tax-tips/Self-Employment-Taxes/Tax-Tips-for-Uber--Lyft--Sideca...>

You will need to file a schedule C in your personal tax return for self employment income.  You will need to use the Self Employed Online version to fill out schedule C.

Here is some reading material……

IRS information on Self Employment….
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Self-Employed-Individuals-Tax-Center"...>

Pulication 334, Tax Guide for Small Business
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p334.pdf">http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p334.pdf</a>

Publication 535 Business Expenses
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p535.pdf">http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p535.pdf</a>

Self Employment tax (Scheduled SE) is generated if a person has $400 or more of net profit from self-employment on Schedule C.  You pay 15.3% for SE tax on 92.35% of your Net Profit greater than $400.  The 15.3% self employed SE Tax is to pay both the employer part and employee part of Social Security and Medicare.  So you get social security credit for it when you retire.  You do get to take off the 50% ER portion of the SE tax as an adjustment on line 27 of the 1040.  The SE tax is already included in your tax due or reduced your refund.  It is on the 1040 line 57.  The SE tax is in addition to your regular income tax on the net profit.

There is also QuickBooks Self Employment bundle you can check out which includes one Turbo Tax Online Self Employed  return....
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://quickbooks.intuit.com/self-employed">http://quickbooks.intuit.com/self-employed</a>


PAYING QUARTERLY ESTIMATES
The first year you don't need to pay estimates as long as you pay in (by withholding) as much as your tax was last year.  But if you will have a big income you should send in estimates so you don't owe too much next April on your tax return.

You must make quarterly estimated tax payments for the current tax year (or next year) if both of the following apply:
- 1. You expect to owe at least $1,000 in tax for the current tax year, after subtracting your withholding and credits.
 
- 2. You expect your withholding and credits to be less than the smaller of:
    90% of the tax to be shown on your current year’s tax return, or
  100% of the tax shown on your prior year’s tax return. (Your prior year tax return must cover all 12 months.)

To prepare estimates for next year you start with your current return, You can just type W4 in the search box at the top of your return , click on Find. Then Click on Jump To and it will take you to the estimated tax payments section. Say no to changing your W-4 and the next screen will start the estimated taxes section.

OR Go to….
Federal Taxes or Personal (H&B/SE version)
Other Tax Situations
Other Tax Forms
Form W-4 and Estimated Taxes - Click the Start or Update button

The 1040ES quarterly estimates for 2017 are due April 18, June 15, Sept 15 and Jan 16, 2018.  Your state will also have their own estimate forms.  You mail in the estimates with a check or you can do it electronically at the IRS and maybe your state.

To just estimate the remaining quarters put in that you paid $1 for the quarters you missed so it will only calculate the remaining quarters.

I bought a used vehicle for the sole intention to drive for Uber and Lyft. Can I write off the cost of the vehicle since it is solely for business purposes?

Doesn't the vehicle's purchase have to be amortized?

I bought a used vehicle for the sole intention to drive for Uber and Lyft. Can I write off the cost of the vehicle since it is solely for business purposes?

I bought a used vehicle for the sole intention to drive for Uber and Lyft. Can I write off the cost of the vehicle since it is solely for business purposes?

@SweetieJean   You can use Section 179 to deduct the full amount, rather than depreciating it.

I bought a used vehicle for the sole intention to drive for Uber and Lyft. Can I write off the cost of the vehicle since it is solely for business purposes?

@TaxGuyBill
I thought Section 179 didn't apply to taxis and other vehicles used to transport people.

I bought a used vehicle for the sole intention to drive for Uber and Lyft. Can I write off the cost of the vehicle since it is solely for business purposes?

Nope.  Actually, it is sort-of the opposite; they are not subject to the Luxury Limits for Depreciation.  I suppose that probably means Section 179 is limited to $25,000 (rather that 'usual' vehicle limit of $8000/$11,160).

It USED to be that you couldn't use the Standard Mileage Rate, but they changed that a few years ago.

I bought a used vehicle for the sole intention to drive for Uber and Lyft. Can I write off the cost of the vehicle since it is solely for business purposes?

Got it!  Thanks.
ProDigit
Returning Member

I bought a used vehicle for the sole intention to drive for Uber and Lyft. Can I write off the cost of the vehicle since it is solely for business purposes?

Section 179 is for sales, not purchases.

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