Truckers' Tax Deductions and Recordkeeping Guide
Keep more of your revenue by tracking deductible expenses the IRS accepts for trucking businesses.
Top Deductible Categories
Per diem meals, fuel, maintenance, tolls, permits, insurance, and depreciation on tractors and trailers.
Self-employed truckers can deduct health insurance premiums and half of self-employment tax.
Recordkeeping Systems
Use accounting software like QuickBooks or trucking-specific tools such as TruckingOffice.
Scan receipts weekly and back up records to cloud storage with restricted access.
Estimated Taxes
Set aside 25–30% of net income for quarterly estimated tax payments.
Use EFTPS to schedule payments and avoid surprises at year-end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can company drivers deduct expenses?
Employee drivers lost unreimbursed job expense deductions in 2018. Negotiate reimbursements with your carrier instead.
What is the per diem rate for 2025?
Plan on $74 per day for U.S. travel (await final IRS notice). Keep logs showing days away from tax home.