Tax question.

"Juan Tawn" (juantawn)
05/07/2015 at 14:58 • Filed to: None

Saddest day at my otherwise fantastic job. My work switched from mileage reimbursements to mandatory rentals. I drive about 1,000 miles per month for workand purchased my car with this mileage in mind. I’m thirty, fit and active, but have hip arthritis from childhood injuries- driving long distances hurts. Not looking forward to the transition from my c30 and s60 to Nissan Versa Notes etc.

Anyone here claim mileage on their tax returns? Do mileage expenses below 2% of your AGI not count?

DISCUSSION (10)

Rico > Juan Tawn
05/07/2015 at 15:31

Damn I have no advice except to get as cool as you can with the rental company so you can get nice things for the cost of the Versa.

someassemblyrequired > Juan Tawn
05/07/2015 at 15:53

Join Hertz #1 Club Gold, Avis Preferred or National Emerald Club. If you rent frequently you won’t be sitting in many Versas.

Juan Tawn > someassemblyrequired
05/07/2015 at 16:44

Can I do this if everything, but gas, is being billed directly to my employers account with the only available option being “compact?”

desertdog5051 > Juan Tawn
05/07/2015 at 18:41

Don’t know where you are. Where I live, you cannot claim mileage on a rental car if that is what you are asking. I always deducted the actual rental cost or took the standard per-mile deduction if driving my own vehicle. It was easier to track and always came out better.

someassemblyrequired > Juan Tawn
05/07/2015 at 19:56

I always got reimbursed, but I think so - when you make your reservation you have them add your membership code to the rental. They will usually be cool with this, since in most cases you can skip the counter at the airport, or pick up your car quickly from an off-airport location.

You will typically get coupons for free upgrades too (outside of the normal on-the-spot upgrades for frequent rentals) but most travel people are on the ball with this, since compacts suck.

Also insist you stick with one company, for example Hertz has a President’s Club level after you rent 20 times in one year, which gets you lots of extra perks.

When renting for work, don’t let your travel people try to steer you towards Enterprise/Dollar/Thrifty/Advantage or the more leisure-oriented brands. Life’s too short to deal with that level of hassle to save your employer a few dollars.

wafflesnfalafel > Juan Tawn
05/07/2015 at 22:51

The company I work for did that several years ago, pissed everybody off, then realized they were actually spending more on rental cars than they were on mileage and changed back last year, (not to mention all the extra time and effort getting and dropping off rental cars took...)

Juan Tawn > someassemblyrequired
05/08/2015 at 10:54

Thanks a ton for this! Life is too short to drive cars you don’t want to drive.

Unfortunately, it’s a negotiated contract with enterprise and enterprise alone. So I’ll roll the dice for a bit and see how it goes - and enroll in enterprise plus if I can.

My old company rented through hertz - they were the best as they generally had a stable full of mustangs as opposed to bottom spec Impalas and versas.

Juan Tawn > desertdog5051
05/08/2015 at 10:55

Na, I was just trying to figure out what my deduction would be if I used my own car.

Juan Tawn > wafflesnfalafel
05/08/2015 at 10:59

I’m hoping for this outcome. And, sooner rather than later.

All that extra time getting and dropping off the cars is a royal pain. Not looking forward spending an extra half hour to drive to the airport to only then do a 2 hour drive to get somewhere at 830 in the morning.

desertdog5051 > Juan Tawn
05/08/2015 at 11:21

The per-mile is almost always the best, but I was self-employed. When I used to rent cars for my business, I would always ask for an American car. I found they had better, longer (back to knee) seats. Buick was my preference. They were the most comfortable. I know what you mean I had a hip injury in my teens and driving in a car with short, uncomfortable seats was painful.