lotto@brahms.BERKELEY.EDU (Ben Lotto) (02/12/86)
I have 2 questions about business expense deductions: 1) Last summer I worked in NY although I live in CA. To get to NY I drove someone else's car (a driveaway). When I got to my job, I got reimbursed for 20.5 cents/mile + misc expenses. I gave them all my receipts as well. My questions: What can I deduct as far as the car is concerned? Can I deduct some number of cents per mile? Or can I only deduct for gasoline bought? If I can only deduct for gasoline, how do I estimate the amount used in a manner that would be acceptible to the IRS (I know the number of miles driven). 2) I am employed by the University of CA as a teaching assistant. In order to be hired by the University, it is required that I register for the semester that I teach. Me questions: Is my registration fee for that semester deductible in any way? What about if the fee is partially/fully covered by a non-taxable fellowship/scholarship? Any help on either of these issues would be appreciated. -Ben