filling out tax form tl2

[apilotguy85]

just wondering if anyone knows how to fill out section 2a&2b of tax form tl2 for employess in transportation industry, section is 2a is for ineligiable trips and 2b is for eligable trips do we just submitt a copy of log book for eligable trips or what please some insight would be grate please

[200hr Wonder]

Funny I have been scratching my head all night trying to get that all sorted my self. This is what I have been doing and I am not sure if it is correct.

I am claiming an amount of $54 less my per-diem as a salaried employee as I am a Charter pilot and not away from base for exteneded periods most of the time. IE most days I get home at night. If I do overnight everything just goes on the company card. This is from the T4044 guide CRA:

You can deduct food and beverage expenses if your employer requires you to be away for at least 12 consecutive hours from the municipality and the metropolitan area (if there is one) of your employer's location where you normally report for work. The most you can deduct for food and beverage expenses is 50% of the lesser of:

the amount you actually paid; and
an amount that is reasonable in the circumstances.

The 50% limit also applies to the cost of food and beverages you paid for when you travelled on an airplane, train, or bus, as long as the ticket price did not include such amounts.

As far as I can tell as a charter pilot who is home most every night I would fall under this exemption and use the T777 form. This is what I have been doing for the past few years and have not heard anything from the CRA with regards to this. Hope this is correct.

[rapid602]

I hope this helps you all, but a suggestion is to get your taxes done by someone who is an accoutant. ( A good one, and not a Book Keeper ) If your a Book Keeper don't go all freaky on me.
An accountant understands all of this form stuff. I just learned something reading above that my accountant will be told about when the time comes.

They have a repore with Canada Rev. You don't. Don't take the accountant a shoe box full of reciepts, but put all of your totals on a sreadsheet or something similar. Whatever he charges you, ( My accountant charges me $200 per year for my return and my girlfriends return.) Worth every penny I pay him. He will probably save you more than you knew about.

Just a thought ... Less Sleepless Nights .... and more Tax Return $$$$

Good Luck.

[xsbank]

Find out what the feds pay their employees for per diems, car allowances and any other expenses and claim that amount. Don't guess the amount and don't just claim what your employer says. If you can't find it on the web, ask a TC guy.

[wallypilot]

Find out what the feds pay their employees for per diems, car allowances and any other expenses and claim that amount. Don't guess the amount and don't just claim what your employer says. If you can't find it on the web, ask a TC guy.

You can't just claim what the fed uses. You have to use the $54(it might be adjusted up for inflation this year, not sure) amount that a previous poster mentioned. If you make more per diem than that, than you can't claim anything. Specifically, it's $17 per 4 hours you are away from your home base, regardless of time of day.

[Hozer]

The guide is online and you can download it in pdf format. Quite easy, every 4hrs away from home base = 1 meal @17$ to the max of three meals in one 24hr period = $51 total. Take all your trips figure out how many hrs away from home base and determine your total. Take your total subtract any per diems you have received and divide by 2, this equals the total you can claim. The 17$ per meal is based on the simplified method.

PS. I have done my taxes several times before, but never have had returns as big as I have recently since using a professional accountant. It worth's the money, they find you more and you can write the cost off for tax preparation the following year!


Hozer

[FL280]

I've also gotten my employer to sign the T2200 form so I can claim my cell phone as well. If you're required to be on call you can claim the whole lot as an employment condition. Not sure if you need the T2200 signed to claim it on the T777 but it's nice to have it in case the CRA comes knocking.

[jschnurr]

The guide is online and you can download it in pdf format. Quite easy, every 4hrs away from home base = 1 meal @17$ to the max of three meals in one 24hr period = $51 total. Take all your trips figure out how many hrs away from home base and determine your total. Take your total subtract any per diems you have received and divide by 2, this equals the total you can claim. The 17$ per meal is based on the simplified method.

If you don't actually buy your meal while on the road, you can't claim it. Have a look at IC73-21R9:

8. The cost of a meal may only be claimed and a portion allowed as a deduction if the meal has, in fact, been paid for. Generally, neither paragraphs 8(1)(e), 8(1)(g) nor 8(1)(h) of the Income Tax Act permit a deduction for meals consumed by individuals who, though they may otherwise qualify under
either of these provisions, do not pay for meals but instead carry a lunch from home to work.

Standing by to be corrected...

[Hozer]

[/quote]If you don't actually buy your meal while on the road, you can't claim it. Have a look at IC73-21R9:

8. The cost of a meal may only be claimed and a portion allowed as a deduction if the meal has, in fact, been paid for. Generally, neither paragraphs 8(1)(e), 8(1)(g) nor 8(1)(h) of the Income Tax Act permit a deduction for meals consumed by individuals who, though they may otherwise qualify under
either of these provisions, do not pay for meals but instead carry a lunch from home to work.

Standing by to be corrected...[/quote]

Nothing to correct here! you are right. I have always used my flight duty times from work to show my place and time way from home where I have claimed the meals. I also use debit every where so I use to bank statements to show the debits at various places I have ate or bought my meals from. Again not that hard! just fill in the paperwork properly and have the documentation to back it up! I was just explaining the process of how to claim the meals, of course each individual circumstance and amounts of meals claimed will be different.

Again if your confused about anything, use a professional not just tax advice you have read from a forum online!!

[jschnurr]

The point I was making was if you don't actually buy your meal, you can't claim the $51.

Although, if you bring your own lunch when you're in Shamattawa, I'm sure the CRA would understand