| |
| |
|
|
Tax Information |
|
|
|
Small Businesses: Company Car Vs. Personal Mileage Reimbursement In Hurricane Katrinas Wake
With gas prices at an all time high before Hurricane Katrina left her mark on our nation, most Americans were hoping that gas prices would settle down once summer passed. But gas prices have jumped as much as 80 cents a gallon across the country once Hurricane Katrina destroyed the Gulf Coast and impacted all of our lives. While Hurricane Katrina is a horrible tragedy, it's not just affecting the Big Easy. Hurricane Katrina will impact every single American that commutes to work, takes a vacation, or shops online. Company Car vs. Mileage Allowance Companies and individuals alike are now concerned that the federal mileage deduction or their company's gas mileage reimbursement will no longer cover the costs of operating a vehicle for business purposes. At the beginning of 2005, the IRS standard federal mileage reimbursement rate for business use of a personal vehicle (including vans, pickups or panel trucks) was 40.5 cents a mile for all business miles driven, up 3 cents from 37.5 cents a mile in 2004; The primary reason for the increase was higher prices of vehicles and fuel in 2004. Christopher Tanis, District Manager of a restaurant chain in New York State travels for business to 5 different stores per week. For him, the 2005 federal reimbursement rate worked out quite well, and he opted for using his personal vehicle instead of using a company car. Now that fuel costs are so high, he's decided to re-examine the financial feasibility of mileage reimbursement. Poor Gas Mileage Cars are Losing Value Chris Brown; owner of Auddie Brown Superstore, an automobile dealership located in Florence, South Carolina, commented "I think [the jump in gas prices resulting from Hurricane Katrina] is ridiculous because they act like we're running out of fuel and we've got plenty." Selling cars, the standard expense for selling each vehicle used to include a full tank of fuel when they bought a car, once the price hit $2.50 a gallon, Chris starting limiting his fuel allowance to $10. Chris explains, "Some cars take $80 worth of fuel to fill up and on a new car we're lucky if we make $80 in profit on them -- especially the new cars. Our new car profit margin is at its lowest ever. At this point we're just glad to sell the car and bring in some inventory." Now that gas prices have gone through the roof, small business owners are working furiously to dump those 6,000 pound gross vehicle weight fuel guzzlers they bought only a year or two previously under a tax loophole which allowed small businesses to write-off most of vehicle cost in one year. Mr. Brown has experienced this situation on a larger scale than most of us, adding "People come in to trade their larger trucks and SUV's with poor gas mileage for smaller, better gas mileage vehicles. Most consumers are not only so upside-down (owing more on the car than its fair market value) but are finding it hard to trade-in these larger vehicles. Not only they are valued less because of gas prices but people just cannot afford the fuel that would be needed to maintain these lower gas mileage vehicles." Weighing your Options You, too, may have to analyze your business vehicle deduction options, now that high fuel prices seem like they're here to stay. You may find that while maintaining a mileage log and claiming a car deduction or mileage allowance isn't right for your situation, the IRS will allow you to deduct actual vehicle expenses based on the percentage of business vs. personal miles. For those who use their vehicle mostly for business, minimal personal usage combined with the burden of record-keeping may justify a company car. There's no right answer for everyone. Literally, your mileage may vary. Consider your options and you'll find the way to steer yourself to the best tax advantages in these new circumstances. Ann-Marie Patero is a freelance writer for Envision Software, publisher of Consulting Mentor, a website providing Consultant Resources and Consulting Articles to Consultants world wide. If you're a consultant, freelancer, or considering starting your own small business, the resources at Consulting Mentor will help you improve your effectiveness, profitability, and overall success.
MORE RESOURCES:
Investing - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Tax Trap #2 -- Double Taxation: Isnt Once Enough? Have you been thinking about incorporating your small business or self-employment activity? The advantages are many!For starters, you'll be protecting yourself and your family from the possible of a business ending lawsuit. Forming a corporation is Step One on the path known as "Asset Protection" -- you are moving from the world of unlimited liability to the world of limited liability. Back To School - Educators Deduct School Expenses As teachers and students head back to school following a glorious summer, it's time to remind teachers to organize 2004 school expenses. Under a temporary tax code change, teachers can deduct certain school-related expenses from adjusted gross income. The Seven Deadly Tax Sins: Commonly Missed Deductions It's that time again, the April 15 tax deadline is looming large. If youre like most people, you havent gathered all of your tax records, let alone filled your return. Failure To Pay Employment Taxes - Penalties As an employer, you must pay employment taxes if you have employees. Fail to pay and the IRS will rain all over your parade. Anticipating Your IRS Refund Can Cost You Plenty While accountants are reaching for aspirin, millions of Americans are reaching for some fast cash this tax season. Unfortunately, those who reach for fast cash in the form of a "refund anticipation loan" are getting hit with interest rates and fees that are out of this world. Taxing Overseas Firms for SOX Compliance The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, also called the Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act of 2002 was signed into law on July 30, 2002 by President Bush. In the aftermath of Enron, Arthur Andersen, Global Crossing, and WorldCom, SOX promises greater corporate accountability and transparency. Corporations Failing To Claim AMT Exemption Overpay Taxes By $11,000 Does your incorporated business pay alternative minimum tax ["AMT]? If so, there is a 93% chance you have been overpaying your taxes by an average of $11,000 a year according to the Treasury Inspector General.The Office of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration was created in 1999 to oversee the IRS. Slash Tax when Buying a Business When buying a business, how the "purchase price" is made up can affect what you pay in tax. The plan is to make as much of the price tax deductible for you and not the other party. Are You An Innocent Victim of These Popular Myths? Misconceptions, misinterpretations and just plain "untruths" are floating about income taxes. Believing them could be costing thousands of tax dollars!Myth: A Professional Tax Preparer knows all there is to know about taxes so you don't have to know anything them. What Is Tax Law? The federal tax code is complex. This complexity generally arises from two factors: the use of the tax code for purposes other than raising revenue, and the feedback process of amending the code. Save Money on Taxes - Let Uncle Sam Pay for Your Fun! "Deducting Meals and Entertainment"O.K. Furnishing Evidence in E-Tax Compliance Self-assessment relies on taxpayers voluntarily meeting their tax obligations. This concept is recognised in all tax statutes, which sets out taxpayers' primary obligations, and clearly spells out that taxpayers are required to determine the amount of tax payable correctly and to pay it on time. The Internet Tax Man Cometh Q: I was contacted by the city tax collector to say that my business is scheduled to be audited to see if I owe sales tax on items purchased on the Internet. Can they really make me pay sales tax on internet purchase? I thought you could buy things online tax free? -- Charlie B. Tax Reduction Tips In the rush to get tax returns prepared and filed by April 15th, many overpay their taxes. Following are a few tax reduction tips that could help you save a bundle. 10 Tax Tips to Reduce Costs and Increase Income No one likes paying tax. Everyone understands that tax is a necessary evil and that without it our government would not be able to afford our roads, health services, education, welfare system etc. Tax Tips for Home-Based Business Owners As tax time approaches, many home-based business owners begin completing their forms or paying their accountants with trepidation. This nervousness comes from two sources: a fear of being audited and a fear of having to pay a lot. The Tax Man Cometh... To Search You're at your office, or home, and the doorbell rings - it's the Canada Revenue Agency ("CRA").The first thing to do is find out why they've come. Small Businesses Filing Amended Federal Tax Returns to Recover Money Small Businesses Filing Amended Federal Tax Returns to Recover Money By Darren Oliver April 15th may be gone but, but certainly not forgotten - especially if you, like millions of small businesses, unknowingly overpaid your federal taxes and can recover money by filing an amended return. According to the IRS tax code, you have three years from the filing date for the tax year in question to file an amended return. Reducing Taxes Through Dividend-Salary Mix Calculations Should I take wages or dividends from my privately owned corporation? What is the best way of taking money out of my company? In other words, what will result in the least amount of income taxes?A Canadian accountant will perform a dividend-salary mix calculation to determine the best way of withdrawing money from the corporation.Even though Canadian income tax laws are different from other jurisdictions, some of the same principles of tax planning will still apply. 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid Certified For Clean-Fuel Deduction If you are environmentally conscious and purchase a 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid vehicle that combines a gasoline-powered engine with alternative power methods, you are in line for a nice tax deduction.Ostensibly, the government uses clean power tax deductions as a method to promote the use of vehicles that are less harmful to the environment.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
