I am working as an (A/V Tech) Independent Contractor out here in Philly. I am responsible for getting to job sites on my own. After finishing work on the job site I am asked to return to the warehouse in my own vehicle to unload the truck. Should I get reimbursed for mileage from the job site back to the warehouse?

I am deducting mileage, to and from the job site, on my taxes. I am just asking about job site to warehouse driving. Would getting reimbursed for mileage turn me into an employee?

Keep Lyft and Uber discussion out of this thread please.

 

If you are required to return from a job site to the warehouse than yes that mileage counts.
Commute mileage from your home to the warehouse or jobsite would not.

 

To be reimbursed from the company?

Yeah, this is normal commuting to work that is on my dime.

 

I don't believe being reimbursed for mileage would make you an employee.
Pretty sure the company isn't legally obligated to reimburse you for mileage of any sort, that's a private contract. I know of quite a few sales reps who pay their own mileage and just take a tax credit at EOY

 

As a independent contractor, the company has no legal obligation to reimburse you for the mileage driven (that's why you are a contractor). You just claim miles driven or actual vehicle expenses on your taxes along with a metric crap ton of other itemized stuff.

Last time I checked, you can deduct mileage from your home to a temporary workplace (i.e. warehouse). As well as getting from that workplace to a second workplace, for the same job or business (i.e. job site). For contractors, "normal committing" is defined as anything not related to their job. That's why a lot of independent contractors I have met own separate work only cars to reduce the headache of trying to separate mileage on a single vehicle.

If you were a full time employee, the company needs to reimburse you for mileage outside your regular commute if they are requiring use of a personal vehicle (via expense reports at standard IRS mileage rates). "Normal commuting" definition also includes miles drives to a permanent workplace, but not to a secondary workplace.

Of course, this is generally speaking. I am sure there are exceptions and outliers to these general rules. Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong any anything.

No. Employee-employeer relationship requirements go much further than that. It would just be a considerate act on their behalf.

Okay

 

I think this is incorrect for a contractor. For an employee it's correct.

As a contractor, all driving is a job expense, including "commuting" and the additional leg for the emptying of the truck. So it's all deductible.

 

Hate to say it Queeg but it depends on the State's laws/procedures.

Any expenses, whatsoever I incurred while contracting full time and now part time I deduct from my own taxes, under California, if I had to make a detour, as you're stating you have to here, yes, I deducted that. Same for tools, lunch if I didn't have access to a fridge or microwave, clothes that needed to be replaced because of wear or damage, cell phone expenses for the calls, hell, even oil changes and maintenance as well as the few times I got stuck in traffic and incurred an additional $25 for the additional hour beyond closing for the day care.

Save all your receipts. Let your Tax Advisor sort thru them. Hell, I still store all my receipts, I've yet to see itemized overrule my standard deduction, but I pay the same for either way so I make him itemize just so it's all on record.

good tips here: Rules for Deducting Mileage for Self-Employed Subcontractors | Chron.com