In response to message #1
I have a friend who is a cargo van driver and he only settles one time per year. He has never sent an "estimated tax payment".
That leads me to believe that the estimated payment is optional.
Yes? No?
David Hall
David,
The answer to this is either, you do not have to pay estimated taxes, but if you notice on the bottom of page 2 of the 1040, there's Line 77, that says the following "ESTIMATED TAX PENALTY", , it does not add up to a heck of a lot but you are still going to pay it no matter what. it is charged even if you pay it. My suggestion is pay it. it makes it easier on you at the end of the year, and if you overpay you get a refund of the overage.
you have to remember Cargo Van Drivers get 2 Major expense deductions
the Per Diem and are allowed the standard mileage rate. depending on weather they in the first year they use it. a business person cannot jump from mileage to actual and back to mileage. once it is changed to actual it must stay actual until the life of the vehicle is ended. 5 years for a cargo van. If you take the actual expense in the first year, with depreciation, you can not switch to the standard mileage rate at all.
Straight trucks and T/T's are not allowed to take mileage rate, but have to take actual expenses. depreciation is 3 years with a 4 year life,
And yes to the e-mail you sent me , I will have a table at the Expo this year. So I will see you there.
Frank