| Submitting one's tax papers are a compulsory | | | | remain on the road, you are allowed to off-set |
| responsibility for many people, but for more | | | | that against your income. The same goes for |
| people, they are a way of reducing the money | | | | cleaning, washing and maintaining the truck, but |
| that they have to pay the state. It depends on | | | | you must keep all the bills. |
| which country you come from. In some countries, | | | | No tax man will believe you without them. Meals |
| people pay no tax until the end of the tax year, | | | | and over-night lodgings are also tax-deductible, but |
| in others, workers pay a fixed rate, say 25%, of | | | | again, receipts are an total necessity. |
| everything they earn, but settle up with the state | | | | Many people think that they can claim for clothing, |
| at the end of the fiscal year. | | | | but this is a difficult point. You are only permitted |
| They settle up by filing their tax returns, which | | | | to claim for working clothing that can only be |
| basically means claiming tax relief for expenses | | | | used wholly and exclusively for work. Overalls are |
| that they have incurred in the completion of their | | | | a good example, as are steel toe-capped boots |
| work. It is the difference between what an | | | | or wellingtons. A sleeping bag is dubious. |
| employed person earns using the boss' tools and | | | | Fines or traffic tickets are not deductible, because |
| a self-employed person earns using their own | | | | they were your responsibility. Likewise sollicitors' |
| tools. After all, a boss would claim for every | | | | fees combatting them - unless you win. However, |
| shovel that employees use, so why should a | | | | if you fight and lose, you may incur penalties |
| self-employed person have to pay for his own | | | | from the tax office. Sometimes it is easier, and |
| shovel? | | | | cheaper, to just pay up, unless it threatens your |
| The same is true of owner operator truck | | | | driving license. |
| drivers. So what are the kind of expenses that an | | | | Fuel bills are a large part of most drivers' |
| owner operator truck driver can claim for? | | | | expenses, so it essential to keep a close eye on |
| First and foremost is the reduction in the value of | | | | those receipts. It is a good idea to pay for fuel |
| the truck itself. The rate at which this is | | | | with a fuel card because then you have a |
| permissible differs from country to country, but in | | | | permanent, re-retrievable record of them. |
| many it is 25% of the value of that truck per | | | | Mobile phones, sat nav and laptops are necessary |
| year, based on the current price. You will also be | | | | to many drivers, but authorities take a particular |
| able to deduct 100% of the interest charges on | | | | view on them. Some allow 100% deduction, |
| the loan that you took out to buy the truck. | | | | others allow only 25-50%, because they assert |
| This can get quite complicated if you want to sell | | | | that they can be used for purposes non-essential |
| the vehicle before it can be called 'written off' in | | | | to carrying out your job. Calls on the cell phone |
| the terms of the law. However, whatever you | | | | may have to be justified for similar motives. |
| get for the vehicle has to be considered as | | | | You may get away with claiming for air-con and |
| income after the vehicle has been written off. | | | | even a refrigerator to keep your food cool or a |
| You will have to take advice on this subject | | | | special ergonomic seat for your back, but do not |
| because it is very complicated, varying from | | | | rely on it. |
| country to country. The main point is that you | | | | In general, the allowances for owner operator |
| are not permitted to deduct the total payments | | | | truck drivers are fair, but you cannot condemn |
| for the truck, only the interest. | | | | the authorities for questioning some of the |
| Another major cost that drivers can claim back | | | | outrageous claims that some drivers make. |
| are road charges. If you have to pay anything to | | | | |