For passive activity rentals (schedule E), what kind of automobile logs are
normal?

RECORDS:
- Do you normally log just the number of miles, or the start and stop
odometer reading?
- Do you normally explain in the log what the trip is exactly for (eg pick
up paint, pick up rent, etc.)?
- Do you also normally log non-rental-use miles (or do they just log the
rental associated miles and then assume the rest are not rental related)?

What does a typical log look like?
- Odometer-START: 090000; Odometer-END: 090010; Date=1/23/10 Time:10:00am
Purpose=abc

EXPENSES:
- Do you normally save receipts for gasoline and oil and repairs or do you
just use the whatever (40?) cents a mile (based on the logs above)?

"Judy Zappacosta" wrote
For passive activity rentals (schedule E), what kind of automobile logs
are
normal?

RECORDS:
- Do you normally log just the number of miles, or the start and stop
odometer reading?


That's helpful, but the odometer reading at the first of each year is
necessary. That's how you compute the amount of non-business miles for the
year.




- Do you normally explain in the log what the trip is exactly for (eg pick
up paint, pick up rent, etc.)?


Yes. You have to record the purpose of the trip on or about the time of the
trip, and while you're recording the miles, might as well jot down the
purpose too. Most mileage books found at the office supply stores have a
place for that.





- Do you also normally log non-rental-use miles (or do they just log the
rental associated miles and then assume the rest are not rental related)?


See above. If it ain't a business purpose trip, it's personal and not
deductible.




What does a typical log look like?
- Odometer-START: 090000; Odometer-END: 090010; Date=1/23/10 Time:10:00am
Purpose=abc



That works. But remember that some business trips may have more than one
stop.





EXPENSES:
- Do you normally save receipts for gasoline and oil and repairs or do you
just use the whatever (40?) cents a mile (based on the logs above)?



For the minimal amount of travel related to a truly passive rental, taking
the mileage rate (50 cents for 2010, 55 cents for 2009) is going to generate
a good deduction for the least amount of paperwork.





--
Paul Thomas, CPA
www.paulthomascpa.com

On Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:08:12 -0500, paulthomascpa wrote:

For the minimal amount of travel related to a truly passive rental, taking
the mileage rate (50 cents for 2010, 55 cents for 2009) is going to generate
a good deduction for the least amount of paperwork.

I think all you need to do is tell the IRS at the end of the year how many
miles you drove in total. Just guess at what percentage since they don't
ask for documentation.

Make it 90% of the total miles driven. It's that easy! No need for a log or
any paperwork.

On Wed, 27 Jan 2010 05:04:09 +0000 (UTC), Halcula
wrote:

On Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:08:12 -0500, paulthomascpa wrote:

For the minimal amount of travel related to a truly passive rental, taking
the mileage rate (50 cents for 2010, 55 cents for 2009) is going to generate
a good deduction for the least amount of paperwork.

I think all you need to do is tell the IRS at the end of the year how many
miles you drove in total. Just guess at what percentage since they don't
ask for documentation.

Make it 90% of the total miles driven. It's that easy! No need for a log or
any paperwork.

Untill you get audited. Then you *must* provide documentation. Do
the work now & be ready for a 1/3hour audit-- or fake it an go
through months of hell as they comb for all the other shortcuts you
took.

Jim

On Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:04:09 -0500, Jim Elbrecht wrote:

Then you *must* provide documentation.
Do the work now & be ready for a 1/3hour audit

I think you need the miles at the start, the miles at the finish, and the
date and task. That's all.

Actually, I'm not sure you need the task you performed. Maybe that's not
needed. Only the miles and the start/stop odometer reading.

I would guess the trip meter can be used so that you don't need a
start/stop odometer reading too.

"Kat Rabun" wrote
I think you need the miles at the start, the miles at the finish, and the
date and task. That's all.

Actually, I'm not sure you need the task you performed. Maybe that's not
needed. Only the miles and the start/stop odometer reading.



Twenty months from today, when you're audited for your miles claimed on your
2010 return, and they ask you where you went on January 28, 2010 for
business, what are you gonna tell them.

Having written something down about where you went, who you saw, etc -
enough detail to remind you what the business purpose was - will save the
deduction.

You're not going to remember. So write it down. It does not have to be a
novel.
"Bank"...there's a deposit receipt to support that trip.
"Office supply Store"...there's a receipt to support that trip.
"Client name"....depending on what you do, there may be documentation to
support that trip.
"To the CPA"....
"Restaurant...lunch with client name".....

.....there could be daily trips to check the PO box.

But you gotta write it down.




--
Paul Thomas, CPA
www.paulthomascpa.com

"paulthomascpa" wrote in
:


"Kat Rabun" wrote
I think you need the miles at the start, the miles at the finish,
and the date and task. That's all.

Actually, I'm not sure you need the task you performed. Maybe
that's not needed. Only the miles and the start/stop odometer
reading.



Twenty months from today, when you're audited for your miles claimed
on your 2010 return, and they ask you where you went on January 28,
2010 for business, what are you gonna tell them.

Having written something down about where you went, who you saw, etc
- enough detail to remind you what the business purpose was - will
save the deduction.

You're not going to remember. So write it down. It does not have
to be a novel.
"Bank"...there's a deposit receipt to support that trip.
"Office supply Store"...there's a receipt to support that trip.
"Client name"....depending on what you do, there may be
documentation to support that trip.
"To the CPA"....
"Restaurant...lunch with client name".....

....there could be daily trips to check the PO box.

But you gotta write it down.

I've looked at different GPS units, and some have an odometer
function, but there isn't any I have seen that have different
odometers so you could select one for business. Even better would
be to store bread crumbs that you download. If a GPS exists
that does that they don't seem to advertise it.

scott s.
..

"scott s." wrote
I've looked at different GPS units, and some have an odometer
function, but there isn't any I have seen that have different
odometers so you could select one for business. Even better would
be to store bread crumbs that you download. If a GPS exists
that does that they don't seem to advertise it.





There was someone a couple of years back talking about a GPS unit that they
downloaded the days data to their home or business computer and were able to
make notes about the recorded trips there, on the home/office computer, not
in the GPS itself.

I have a trackstick for biking and hiking, can download it to the computer
and make notes on the trip segment. I bet there would be the same abilities
with a mapping GPS.



--
Paul Thomas, CPA
www.paulthomascpa.com

paulthomascpa wrote:
"scott s." wrote
I've looked at different GPS units, and some have an odometer
function, but there isn't any I have seen that have different
odometers so you could select one for business. Even better would
be to store bread crumbs that you download. If a GPS exists
that does that they don't seem to advertise it.





There was someone a couple of years back talking about a GPS unit that they
downloaded the days data to their home or business computer and were able to
make notes about the recorded trips there, on the home/office computer, not
in the GPS itself.

I have a trackstick for biking and hiking, can download it to the computer
and make notes on the trip segment. I bet there would be the same abilities
with a mapping GPS.


....or you could use a pencil and piece of paper-- a spiral pad if you
wanted to upscale the solution...

On Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:19:38 -0500, Jason Bourne wrote:

paulthomascpa wrote:
-snip-
There was someone a couple of years back talking about a GPS unit that they
downloaded the days data to their home or business computer and were able to
make notes about the recorded trips there, on the home/office computer, not
in the GPS itself.

I have a trackstick for biking and hiking, can download it to the computer
and make notes on the trip segment. I bet there would be the same abilities
with a mapping GPS.


...or you could use a pencil and piece of paper-- a spiral pad if you
wanted to upscale the solution...

That is *so* 20th century. there are Iphone aps that will send a
detailed log to your computer- and you just need to sort out the
business use trips. [and it will raise the percentage of your iphone
expense that you can deduct]

Or this $250 +$20/month solution-
http://www.mileagelogger.com/

Lots of other mileage logging tools out there today.

Jim

"Jim Elbrecht" wrote
That is *so* 20th century. there are Iphone aps that will send a
detailed log to your computer- and you just need to sort out the
business use trips. [and it will raise the percentage of your iphone
expense that you can deduct]



And what does an i-phone cost?

"paulthomascpa" wrote:


"Jim Elbrecht" wrote
That is *so* 20th century. there are Iphone aps that will send a
detailed log to your computer- and you just need to sort out the
business use trips. [and it will raise the percentage of your iphone
expense that you can deduct]



And what does an i-phone cost?


This is second hand because I wouldn't own one if it was given to me--
but I think they are around $400-500, then $100 a month forever.
Refurbs can be had for $200 *if* you have a broken one to trade in.
[my daughter just did this with hers - the old one got wet, and since
you can't remove the battery it sat there and fried until dead.]

But. . . if I owned one & needed to keep track of mileage, I'd rather
download a free[?] ap and begin deducting a higher percentage of my
Iphone splurge on my taxes. [which probably is already seeing some
business use, anyway]

Jim