Hey Big Buddy: Truckers Can Take a Detour to Tax Relief

Tax compliance: You can’t escape it, even if you’re a long distance trucker. 

Good news? Transport employees can deduct board and lodging expenses on form TL2 if their principal business is to transport goods, passengers, or both or they work for a transport company and regularly travel from the metropolitan area where their home terminal is located.

A maximum claim of $17 a meal (3 in a 24 hour period) can be claimed using a “simplified method,” although a trucker’s distance log is required to justify your trip lengths. Only one meal can be claimed if scheduled runs are 10 hours or less in duration. Meal costs are restricted by 50% except in the case of long haul truckers who may claim 80% of costs in certain cases. A rebate of GST/HST paid is also possible. 

Your DFA-Tax Services Specialist has got your back, big buddy. There’s no escaping the tax auditor. . .so be sure to stop in if CRA drops you a line.