Is Gas a Tax Write-Off?

[malenurse122879, MSN, RN]

Hello. I'm a recent grad RN and I was wondering what all I need to hold receipts on for taxes next year..

I understand the following can be written off:

* Uniforms, Shoes, Socks, Undershirts, etc.

* Tools (scissors, stethoscopes, calipers, etc.)

* Books

* License fees / Boards fees

* Certification Classes

* Association Fees

You guys think of anything else? Gas is pretty expensive since I drive 45 minutes each way to work... That's why I was asking about it.

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

I am almost 100% positive that gas expenses for commuting back and forth to work are NOT deductible. However, if you had travel expenses like a home health nurse would from driving WHILE working, and your employer did not reimburse you, then you could deduct the non-commute portion.

Link added:

http://www.jacksonhewitt.com/?ResourcesLibraryTopicsJobVehicleExp

"Your costs of driving a vehicle between your home and your main or regular place of work are personal commuting expenses and are not deductible, no matter how far your home is from your regular place of work and regardless whether you worked during the commuting trip."

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

No go on gas unless you were commuting to a second job from your first job.

[malenurse122879, MSN, RN]

oh ok. Was worth a shot :)

Thanks!

[Thunderwolf, MSN, RN]

With the cost of gas, it should be!!!!

[Xbox Live Addict]

With the cost of gas, it should be!!!!

Yeah... but it isn't, and it isn't figured into any cost-of-living adjustments. Staff in the Midwest, where wages are low, the cost of living is soaring, and commutes are very long, suffer greatly under gas price increases.

[RN1989]

If you work under contract, such as an agency nurse, your mileage is tax deductible. Of course all tax deductions are subject to certain rules and if you don't have more deductions than the standard deduction then it doesn't work either.

For people who pay mortgage interest, property taxes, good chunk of charitable contributions, large amt of health insurance, and lots of continuing ed., these are the people who can deduct with better results than taking the standard deduction.

[suzanne4, RN]

If you work under contract, such as an agency nurse, your mileage is tax deductible. Of course all tax deductions are subject to certain rules and if you don't have more deductions than the standard deduction then it doesn't work either.

For people who pay mortgage interest, property taxes, good chunk of charitable contributions, large amt of health insurance, and lots of continuing ed., these are the people who can deduct with better results than taking the standard deduction.

It is not tax deductible if you work as an agency nurse. Only way that it would if you were actually driving to their office and then going to work from there. An agency may reimburse you for it, but it cannot be taken off of one's taxes as an expense. That is part of being an agency nurse.

[Tash4nvyblues, RN]

hee, hee, nice try. In Aust you can claim gas on the kilometers you travel to attend courses related to your profession, during unpaid time.

[sue6962]

Hope this is in the correct thread...

This is my first time working for an agency, and the other nurses I work with say that parking and meals are deductible and that they've done it for years successfully - no audits.

My husband is an accountant (though not a tax specialist) and says he believes they are wrong, the IRS expects you to pay your own parking as normal expense. Meals he just laughed. Has any agency nurse ever had a professional do their taxes and tell them that either parking or meals were deductible while working on an agency assignment?