I should get paid for mileage!!! Right?

Question

It's in my sales contract to get mileage, work from home and, although not expressly written, I only have to go in to the office several times a month.

In January of this year, my boss asked me to come in to the office every day, and he insisted he did not have to pay me mileage nor gas (I was willing to only charge him for the gas, it would have been cheaper for them too-- but he also refused).

Now, I just got back from a sales trip all last week. The company rented the car and paid for hotels but I just drove almost 1000 miles, visiting clients.

I get the mileage this time, right? Hotels, meals and the car are expenses, but I should also get reimbursed for driving the car to all these remote locations. Airline tickets would have increased the trip expenses overall, and I still would have to rent a car at each city, not to mention less flexibility to change schedules around which can happen on this type of trips.

So, do I get the mileage this time?

Answer 1

I agree with the other posts that the company should pay for the gas and the rental, but you do not get additional compensation.

Driving to these remote locations and being flexible are part of the job you get paid for.

If you used your personal car to drive to these locations, then you should get paid for mileage (about 50 cents per mile now, and this would include gas).

In regards to the beginning of your post, if your home is your 'office' and the company does not provide you a desk in an actual location, then you should get mileage for any driving you are doing for the company in your personal car.

However, if you actually have a desk in a location and you are only working at home because the company is allowing you flexibility, then you should not be reimbursed mileage for going into the office.

Answer 2

mileage from a rental car? (how I read it) and if so, then no.

They should be paying for the gas for a rental car, not you for mileage in a rental car.

depends on the contract you have with your employer tho.

Answer 3

You should get paid mileage for use of your own personal car for any business-related use. However, that does not normally cover commuting from your home to the office, unless it is specifically stated in writing.

As for the rental car, the company pays for renting the car and the gas. Since it wasn't your car and you didn't incur any personal expense in operating it, you don't get paid mileage.

Answer 4

Kebvee, I have worked like this.

If the company pays for the rental car, and the gas, plus meals and hotel expenses, you should not get mileage reimbursement. The reason for this is that mileage reimbursement is to cover the expenses of driving your car, not paying you to drive a car. You get paid for your time by salary or commissions or both.

Regards,

Dan

Answer 5

Since you are home based with a remote office, you get mileage for all business miles driven in your personal vehicle.  If your company refuses to reimburse you, you're able to claim that mileage on your taxes.  You get 50.5 cents per mile as allowed by the IRS.

As for your recent trip, you're not allowed a mileage reimbursement, since it's not your personal vehicle.  If you paid for gasoline or tolls, your company should be reimbursing that.  Had you paid for the rental, you'd only be entitled to reimbursement for the cost of the rental.