Tips and Info.
Personal
Taxes
Business
Taxes
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Planning
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Independent Contractor |
|
Tips — Business Taxes
Auto Expenses
If you use your car for business purposes, you may be able to deduct car expenses. You generally can use one of two methods to figure your
expenses: actual expenses or the standard mileage rate.
- Actual Expenses — If you choose to deduct actual expenses you can deduct the cost of the following
items:
- Depreciation
- Lease Fees
- Rental fees
- Garage rent
- Licenses
- Repairs
- Gas
- Oil
- Tires
- Insurance
- Parking fees
- Tolls
Business and Personal Use — If you use your car for both business and personal purposes, you must
divide your expenses between business and personal use.
Example: You are a contractor and drive your car 20,000 miles during the year: 12,000 miles for business use and 8,000 miles
for personal use. You can claim only 60% (12,000 / 20,000) of the cost of operating your car as a business expense.
- Standard Mileage Rate — Instead of figuring actual expenses, you may be able to use the standard
mileage rate to figure the deductible cost of operating your car, van, pickup, or panel truck for business purposes. You can use the
standard mileage rate only for a car that you own. The rates are adjusted periodically for inflation.
If you choose to take the standard mileage rate, you cannot deduct actual operating expenses. These include depreciation, maintenance
and repairs, gasoline (including gasoline taxes), oil, insurance, and vehicle registration fees.
Mileage Rates (cents per mile)
|
Year |
Business |
Medical |
Charitable |
| 2007 |
48.5 |
20 |
14 |
2008
1/1/08 - 6/30/08 |
50.5 |
19 |
14 |
2008
7/1/08 - 12/31/08 |
58.5 |
19 |
14 |
| 2009 |
50.0 |
16.5 |
14 |
|
up |
