Mileage

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  • Dave
    Junior Member
    • Mar 2006
    • 1

    #1

    Mileage

    I am a self employed carpenter and work all over the place. This is the first year I am self employed. I always come back home and store my equipment and thats where I do my phone calls and paperwork. Can I call my home my principal place of work and deduct the mileage even if I'm only working there a small part of the day? A friend of mine said I had to have a office to deduct the mileage and there cannot be any personal stuff in it. Is this true?
  • KJ Judd
    Senior Member
    • Jan 2006
    • 328

    #2
    You can only deduct your mileage from your home if it is a qualified home office. This means it is used regularly & EXCLUSIVELY for business. The IRS is very strict about the exclusively. See IRS Pub 587 - Business Use of Your Home for more info.

    Otherwise mileage from your home to your first place of work is considered commuting. If you leave Job #1 and go to Job #2 during the day, that is business mileage.

    Comment

    • Matt Sova
      Senior Member
      • Jun 2005
      • 645

      #3
      Exclusive use

      This test is met if an area of the home is only used for business. It can be a room or other separately identifiable space. The space does not need to be marked off by a permanent partition.

      Matt
      I would put a favorite quote in here, but it would get me banned from the board.

      Comment

      • JON
        Senior Member
        • Jul 2005
        • 1265

        #4
        Although

        if it was marked off that would HELP. Maybe in RED paint or should it be BLACK??

        Comment

        • Matt Sova
          Senior Member
          • Jun 2005
          • 645

          #5
          Red or Black?

          Red if your business is losing money, Black if it is profitable.
          I would put a favorite quote in here, but it would get me banned from the board.

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