Anyone in sales and have a car allowance/gas card?

Is the car allowance and corporate gas card used solely for business travel or do you use it when you're driving around town or to go on vacation?

If I were to do a mileage log, but back out personal miles is that legit?

you're not allowed to deduct business mileage that you are reimbursed for (or given a gas card for).

Example:

I drive 250 miles a month for business purposes that are not reimbursed by my employer. I would keep a log of those miles and claim them as an unreimbursed expense come tax time.

Example 2:

I drive 250 miles a month for business purposes but I get a corporate gas card to pay for the gas then I am not allowed to claim the mileage as a deduction.

You said you get a car allowance and a gas card? I'm assuming that the car allowance is a cash payment you get and the gas card just pays for the gas you put in every time you fill up.

You need to do both. You need to pay taxes or take a deduction based on if your reimbursement (and gas money) is more or less than the mileage would come out to be. Instead of mileage you can do actual expenses including depreciation. I think....

Just reread the OP. IF you are paying taxes on the car allowance, you absolutely need to turn in your mileage and any other expenses you incur while providing a vehicle to your employer. Most vehicle allowances are not taxed though because they are seen as a reimbursement.

PAGINGG POODLEBRAIN

I get a vehicle allowance, and a 1099 misc (rental income at he end of the year) and i get a fuel card

i claim the vehicle depreciation, repairs/maintenance, and the extra insurance i have to carry (employer requires 100/300/100)

i do not claim millage because i get gas paid

Thanks for all of the responses. I'm still not positive I can submit the mileage log but here's the reason I'm asking.

My accountant has told me in the past that I'm not able to get reimbursed for mileage since I have the car allowance/gas card.

My coworker says he's been submitting a mileage log every year and that my accountant is an incompetent dickbag.

I put about 45k per year on my car and probably 70-75% is for business.

I am a CPA, so I will throw this out there. Take it FWIW.

It sounds like you are getting 2 separate payments.

One in the form of a car allowance. I don't know the stipulations on what exactly this is - but this is probably taxable income. Like getting a bonus.

Two is a Corporate Gas Card, which sounds like it is directly paying for your gas only. The IRS allows you a standard mileage deduction of 55.5 cents per mile in 2012. My guess is that if you keep a log of your miles driven for work and the amount of money you charged to the Corporate Gas Card you should be able to come up with how many cents per mile the gas card paid for. You should be able to deduct the difference between 55.5 cents per mile and the amount that you just calculated as being covered by the Corporate Gas Card, as long as the unreimbursed portion is greater than 2% of your AGI and you itemize.

Can not do both I had a coworker busted at an audit.