Discussion:Tax Question: Parking Expenses
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IntrinsicValue (talk|edits) said: | 15 April 2007 |
| Can you deduct expenses related to parking in a garage/lot at the office you work everyday? If so, are receipts required over a certain amount -- or is there some form that needs to be filled out? | |
| 15 April 2007 | |
| Unreimbursed employee business expenses but only if they itemize......does not the employer validate their parking or in some way reimburse them? | |
| 15 April 2007 | |
| Is it a business expense or a communting expense? Is it a business use vehicle or personal use vehicle? Business, yes it can be claimed. Personal, not claimed unless at a "temporary" work location, which puts it into the business use catagory. | |
IntrinsicValue (talk|edits) said: | 15 April 2007 |
| Thanks for the responses. It is just general commuting to/from work (not a business car). Looks like it isn't deductible. Oh well, worth a shot. ;) | |
| 15 April 2007 | |
| Okie...it can also be deducted if for the "employer's benefit" on Sch A as an itemized deduction...paid parking in order to go to a metropolitan area to work where all parking is metered, counts, but only if the client can itemize and only if they don't get reimbursed for the parking or it is validated.....or not????? | |
IntrinsicValue (talk|edits) said: | 15 April 2007 |
| Sandy,
What if it's just for every-day commuting to and from work, and there is no choice but to pay for parking? | |
| 15 April 2007 | |
| Then if there is NO choice, then it is for the benefit of the "employer" and not the "employee" and is deductible on Sch A as unreimbursed employee expenses.....still subject to the Sch A limitations, but it is worth a shot....parking can be very expensive....
Just make sure employer is not validating their parking or in other ways reimbursing them for the parking expenses :) | |
| 15 April 2007 | |
| most parking at the job location is a commuting expense, and non-deductible. I disagree with Sandy on this. Doesn't matter whether there is a parking choice or not, the client could take a bus or car pool, doesn't have to park a car. Some people ride a bike. | |
| 15 April 2007 | |
| For the employer's benefit Kevin? That is WHY they validate parking...it would be deductible to the employer OR the employee. I worked at Coopers and Lybrand in downtown metropolitan area and my parking was DEDUCTIBLE....it was 180.00 a month and it was for the benefit of my employer...I was in the audit department and used my vehicle to go to client's offices...my commuting expenses were NOT deductible, but my parking at the lot across from C&L was as it was either there....or I would have to take a bus or taxi...but then again...who draws the line?
I would deduct it on Schedule A subject to the limitations :) | |
| 15 April 2007 | |
| whether you come to work or not by car doesn't make a difference. It is a commuting expense. I'm sure this is in the pub for misc itemized deductions, but don't have time to look because it has been a well known fact for as long as I have been doing taxes, and certainly as long as I have been teaching taxes to other professionals who already thought they knew taxes. | |
| 15 April 2007 | |
| Well...I am two for two Kevin...thank you....
I don't think I KNOW anything at the present with all the hoopla I have been involved in with an illegal immigrant, so....maybe time to take down my shingle.... Thank you again Kevin :) | |
| 15 April 2007 | |
| Oh, Sandy, I hear you loud and clear! Client I've only had for the past 6 or so years came and asked if I would notarize a paper that would allow her brother to come into this country.....I flat out said NO.....( Have no idea what the paper actually was.) Now I'm wondering if SHE is here legally.....
She does have an accent....but you just can't outright ask!! What to do, what to do??!! DJ | |
Bottom Line (talk|edits) said: | 15 April 2007 |
| DJ glad to hear you're cautious with your notary. I'm a notary too but don't advertise it. Only have it for convenience of clients and so I can marry some friends. These "have notary, will travel" people scare me to death. | |
| 15 April 2007 | |
| BL, It's scary!! I just read the thread between you and Sandy> That poor girl!! I hope she'll be alright!! I do ALL of my business thru referrals, but, again, you have to be VERY cautious! Me, especially, because I do it in my home. As far as the 'very' religious ones....just remember Jimmy Jones!! And I think we all have that second sense....If the answers don't seem right, they probably aren't!! So, either they accept the fact that I won't do what they want, or they can take their papers elsewhere.
DJ DJ | |
| 15 April 2007 | |
| DJ...was it the client's signature you were asked to notarize? If so, I would have no problem doing so, provided the client signed it in front of me. If it was the brother's signature, he would have to sign in front of me and have ID.
I'm not sure I understand the concern here.... | |
Bottom Line (talk|edits) said: | 15 April 2007 |
| Without knowing what exactly the document was, my first question would be: How did she know that the person was the client's brother? Second question, can DJ read the language that the identification papers are in? | |
| 15 April 2007 | |
| My concern was that this woman wanted me to sign SOMETHING that would allow her brother to come into this country....What the document was, I have no idea. WHO the brother was...I also had no idea, as having NOT ever seen him. However, anything that would allow someone into this country on MY say-so alone, via the Notarization, didn't seem all that legal. I honestly hope you would NOT sign just on the fact that the person presented himself and had an ID......Something like this should be handled by INS....not a mere notary....in a tax office.
DJ | |
| 15 April 2007 | |
| doesn't a notary stamp mean "I did indeed see the person sign this and identified that person as the same as his signature purports him to be"? | |
| 15 April 2007 | |
| Some people (south of the border) think a notary is the same as an attorney | |
| 15 April 2007 | |
| do you really think that document would allow someone to enter the country on your say so?...that's not how its done...did you even read the document?
Based on your post, I assumed your client asked you to notarize her signature on a document, that she would be submitting to get her brother a VISA. If I inferred incorrectly, my mistake. All you are doing as a Notary is certifying that the person who signed the document is in fact the person who signed the document, did so in your presence, on the date stated in the doc...maybe under oath. In Michigan, I am also unable to notarize an incomplete document. It is not a Notary's responsibility to pass judgement on the content or appropriateness of a document. As a Notary, you are free to act or not act...it's up to you. I'm not saying you should have notarized the document...just curious relative to your concerns in not doing so. | |
| 15 April 2007 | |
| My concerns were that this woman presented a paper inside an envelope, which I did not read, because as she was handing it to me she said, "You sign this paper so my brother can come into this country." I took back my hand and said, "I'm sorry, but I cannot do that." Now, obviously the brother was not here, and if it was something to do with a VISA, then it is not my position to notarize anything having to do with immigration rules/regulations.
DJ | |
Bottom Line (talk|edits) said: | 15 April 2007 |
| In FL the notary is supposed to understand the document and make a decision that the person signing the document also understands it. I have a client that purchased a house a few years ago from a man that apparently stole his sister's house from her. The sister signed the house over to him and a notary witnessed it (in a nursing home). Problem was that the sister was incompetent. My client was ok because he had title insurance. Title company went after the notary because she should have known that the sister was incompetent. | |
| 15 April 2007 | |
| >>>>>It is not a Notary's responsibility to pass judgement on the content or appropriateness of a document." I have to disagree with your post. If I felt there was something out of order, I would certainly NOT accept it.
My name will BE on this document. Heaven help you if it is found to be inappropriate. DJ | |
Bottom Line (talk|edits) said: | 15 April 2007 |
| DJ - I agree with you. Send her to a bank to get it notorized. | |
| 15 April 2007 | |
| BL, thanks....I was just NOT comfortable in that situation.
DJ | |
| 15 April 2007 | |
| ...there will always be egregious cases such as BL describes in FL...though in that case, it doesn't sound like the document was the issue at all...again, not saying you should have notarized the document...it is your call | |
| 15 April 2007 | |
| but either way, regular parking is still a commuting expense. | |
IntrinsicValue (talk|edits) said: | 15 April 2007 |
| Thanks for the information everyone.
I just found the section in the Publication that covers this. Kevinh5 is correct. Publication 17, Chapter 28 (Car Expenses) - Transporation Expenses / Parking Fees, states : "Fees you pay to park your car at your place of business are nondeductible commuting expenses. You can, however, deduct business-related parking fees when visiting a customer or client." In other words, for business outside of your normal office location, parking fees would be deductible; otherwise they are not. Thanks again for all the advice. | |
| 15 April 2007 | |
| (Sandy, you may need to amend those tax returns from when you worked at Coopers & Lybrand. Obviously those people don't know taxes.) | |
| 16 April 2007 | |
| Well....I could do that Kevin, but they are 1989 through 1992...don't think they are important now. But....I wonder if in those years...I will try to research that after some of the nightmares are over for this tax season and see if perhaps something allowed me to claim it (except for the fact that I travelled, I still had to commute daily to C&L)...
You are correct too that working in the audit department, there were no TAX professionals (me included).... On to more fun things as they say :) | |
