How do I write off Gas Mileage in this scenario?

Question

New Car - 10000ish - Back in Feb. 08 - plating/sales 1300ish

New Job July 08 - News Paper Delivery --- have a main job that I've had for 4 years.

Don't own a house, technically still have home address listed as parents address, but not currently spending much time there. Reside in Nebraska, USA

Average about 35 mi M-F on the paper route, haven't yet considered other maintenance costs etc.

Vehicle is used for personal and business.

I have a 6 month old child, though I believe his mother will probably claim him. This means I can't be head of household correct?

How do I, if I can, go about writing off the Gas Mileage? I have started an Excel spreadsheet listing start and stops on mileage, so I'll have some record of the trips.

Hopefully the extra facts are helpful in help me figure this out, basically I don't want to do this job long if it won't be beneficial in the end.

Answer 1

That is what I pay a good tax accountant for... a good one will get more money back for you than you will pay them and also know what you can write off.

Answer 2

Okay, I'm not sure if the laws are different from state to state, but my first question is, do you get a W-2 or a 1099 during tax season?  

If you get a W-2, you can't claim any mileage because it's just your day to day driving for work.  For instance, I am an employee for my company and I drive to and from my office every morning and evening.  I canNOT claim the 12 miles round trip.  Now, if I were to drive to a meeting for my job, I could claim those miles.  However, since your job is a paper route and the only real part of your job is to drive around, I think you'd be able to write this off.  Then again, I'm not 100% sure.

If you get a 1099 then you'll definitely be able to claim the miles that pertain to your paper route because you're not an employee of a company, you're freelance and everything that is a work related expense that you've incurred can be written off.

All of this is contingent upon whether or not your company reimburses you for your mileage.  If yes, then you can't write anything off because you've all ready been paid for your car services.

My best advice to you would be to get a tax accountant to file your taxes for you.  You might have to pay them, but they would be able to tell you what is or is not a write off.

Good luck!