OT? write-offs for business commute

[Chad Munroe]

I'm in the process of taking flying lessons and working toward my
license. Does anyone in this NG fly their private plane for a
business commute? If so, is it possible to get tax deductions for
travel expenses? I'm just thinking ahead.
Out of curiosity, how many here have an accountant for taxes, and
how many file on their own? I've used an accountant for years, but
most people I know do it online now. I'm trying to decide if I
should switch this year.

Warm wishes,
Chad Munroe
remove delete to email

[Ben Jackson]

In article >,
Chad Munroe > wrote:
>
>I'm in the process of taking flying lessons and working toward my
>license. Does anyone in this NG fly their private plane for a
>business commute?

The company I work for specifically prohibits piloting aircraft on
company business. I got the notification a corporate-wide email a
few months after I got my ppl. Made me wonder how many people at
the company it was relevant to. Too bad.

--
Ben Jackson
>
http://www.ben.com/

[Blanche]

As a pilot for Angel Flight West, I can deduct actual expenses for
each trip. Goes on Schedule A - Donations since AFW is 501(c)3.

As for business - yes, since I'm self-employed right now so any
travel for business purposes only needs to be approved by me.

Aviation Consumer had a major article a couple months ago about
this.

[Judah]

There was also an article that talked about the fact that there is a risk
of being in violation of FAR Part 91 if you do this and the plane is owned
by a company that does nothing else except own the plane...

Blanche > wrote in news:1074122626.643486
@irys.nyx.net:

> As a pilot for Angel Flight West, I can deduct actual expenses for
> each trip. Goes on Schedule A - Donations since AFW is 501(c)3.
>
> As for business - yes, since I'm self-employed right now so any
> travel for business purposes only needs to be approved by me.
>
> Aviation Consumer had a major article a couple months ago about
> this.
>
>

[Mike Rapoport]

If you are really talking about commuting then it is not deductible.
Commuting is travel from your home to your place of work and is not a
"business expense". Business travel (or any other expense) is deductible to
the extent that it is an "ordinary and nessesary" business expense.

Mike
MU-2

"Chad Munroe" > wrote in message
...
>
> I'm in the process of taking flying lessons and working toward my
> license. Does anyone in this NG fly their private plane for a
> business commute? If so, is it possible to get tax deductions for
> travel expenses? I'm just thinking ahead.
> Out of curiosity, how many here have an accountant for taxes, and
> how many file on their own? I've used an accountant for years, but
> most people I know do it online now. I'm trying to decide if I
> should switch this year.
>
> Warm wishes,
> Chad Munroe
> remove delete to email

[C J Campbell]

As pointed out by others, commuting is not deductible. You are able to
deduct the actual costs of business travel, including depreciation of your
aircraft.

There are a lot of tax incentives right now for purchasing an aircraft for
business purposes. You should run these by your tax professional.

I don't like people doing their own taxes. They should come to me and pay me
my old rate of $300 per hour. But then, I have retired. So maybe I don't
care after all.

[William W. Plummer]

"Chad Munroe" > wrote in message
...
>
> I'm in the process of taking flying lessons and working toward my
> license. Does anyone in this NG fly their private plane for a
> business commute? If so, is it possible to get tax deductions for
> travel expenses? I'm just thinking ahead.
> Out of curiosity, how many here have an accountant for taxes, and
> how many file on their own? I've used an accountant for years, but
> most people I know do it online now. I'm trying to decide if I
> should switch this year.

Commuting is not deductible. However, on US Government contracts, travel is
reimbursed at a published rate, NOT TO EXCEED the customary commercial
travel rates. See www.dtic.mil under "personal aircraft use". I believe
the rate is $0.965 per mile (SM or NM?). But SWAir will get to to FL from
Bonston for $79.

Once again we discover that flying cannot be justified. You have to do it
because you really like it. Flying a small plane is an end in its own.

[J. Ramos]

In article >,
says...
>
> I'm in the process of taking flying lessons and working toward my
> license. Does anyone in this NG fly their private plane for a
> business commute? If so, is it possible to get tax deductions for
> travel expenses? I'm just thinking ahead.
> Out of curiosity, how many here have an accountant for taxes, and
> how many file on their own? I've used an accountant for years, but
> most people I know do it online now. I'm trying to decide if I
> should switch this year.
>
> Warm wishes,
> Chad Munroe
> remove delete to email
>

This link has some specifics on when aviation fuel etc. can be
deducted: http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq-kw239.html

I've always done my own taxes. It's not difficult, just
frustrating, but far less so if you do it online. Last year I used
TaxBrain, which is probably one of the better known websites. Some
people prefer to buy software too, which I can't understand.

[Tinker]

On Wed, 14 Jan 2004 22:09:27 GMT, (Ben Jackson) wrote:

>In article >,
>Chad Munroe > wrote:
>>
>>I'm in the process of taking flying lessons and working toward my
>>license. Does anyone in this NG fly their private plane for a
>>business commute?
>
>The company I work for specifically prohibits piloting aircraft on
>company business. I got the notification a corporate-wide email a
>few months after I got my ppl. Made me wonder how many people at
>the company it was relevant to. Too bad.

This is becuase of the liability issue. If you're flying on company
business and crash, a smart lawyer could go after your employer for
big bucks. Corporate insurance to cover this kind of liability is
expensive. You need to have a really 'high value' to the company and
a high justification for the use of the aircraft to make it worthwhile
for them to pay for it.

Company I retired from had a couple of top salesguys in the western
plains that covered a lot of territory and could justify it. I was lucky
enough to slip in under a blanket policy and fly some trips around the
state. Eventually they retired and the company dropped the policy at
which point my biz flying ended.

Was fun while it lasted. Paid for a lot of PIC hours needed for my
Instrument Rating :-).

/tink

[Ron Natalie]

"Tinker" > wrote in message ...
> This is becuase of the liability issue. If you're flying on company
> business and crash, a smart lawyer could go after your employer for
> big bucks.

The same is true if you drive or even walk on business.

[Mike Beede]

In article <0tANb.59902$Rc4.216137@attbi_s54>, William W. Plummer > wrote:

> "Chad Munroe" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > I'm in the process of taking flying lessons and working toward my
> > license. Does anyone in this NG fly their private plane for a
> > business commute? If so, is it possible to get tax deductions for
> > travel expenses? I'm just thinking ahead.
> > Out of curiosity, how many here have an accountant for taxes, and
> > how many file on their own? I've used an accountant for years, but
> > most people I know do it online now. I'm trying to decide if I
> > should switch this year.
>
> Commuting is not deductible.

However, travel *between job sites* is deductible. That means if
you are a consultant and have a home office, travel to job sites can
be deducted, modulo talk to your tax guy and see what has to
happen precisely . . . . *I* of course am not a tax guy.

Mike Beede