Keep track of your mileage, for going to and from any work site, (client) and also keep track of total mileage. I write it on the gas receipts every time I buy gas, Then I can also keep track of the miles that are personal. Personal mile are everything that is not driving to a from a client, because I work from home and there are no commute miles. But if you do drive to an office, then also keep track of miles for commuting. Then also keep all receipts for all auto expenses, gas tolls, parking, repairs tires etc. This is helpful if the actual expenses are more than what the mileage deduction calculates in Turbo tax, especially in years where tires are replaced. Turbo tax will help you determine which method gives you a greater deduction, Miles or the actual expenses. Also take note of the first year what method is used. I.E. miles or actual. This may determine what you have to follow in the future. Finally, you will need the vehicle purchase paperwork to enter the initial purchase value, this sets up the amount of depreciation deduction. If the vehicle was used, then also look up the blue book value every year to be able to have current value. The IRS stopped the practice of rolling a work vehicle's net value into the next replacement vehicle, and now every time you replace the work vehicle, it starts up as a new asset with no residual from the prior vehicle, and the old vehicle either has a GAIN or a LOSS when you replace it. I found Turbo Tax is really good at keeping track of the depreciation, which is an additional tax deduction for usually for the first 5 years. I have not kept one longer than that.
