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amandah
Level 1

Should I use the owner draw or auto expense category to account for business fuel and car repair expenses? I'm using mileage and I'm an LLC and sole prop.

 
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Best answer March 03, 2020

Best Answers
Rustler
Level 15

Should I use the owner draw or auto expense category to account for business fuel and car repair expenses? I'm using mileage and I'm an LLC and sole prop.

You book the actual expenses during the tax year if you pay for it with company funds/CC

then at tax time, you either

use the mileage rate

or

actual expenses (fuel, oil, tires, depreciation, insurance, etc etc)

View solution in original post

amandah
Level 1

Should I use the owner draw or auto expense category to account for business fuel and car repair expenses? I'm using mileage and I'm an LLC and sole prop.

Thanks. If I determine that mileage is more advantageous one year but find the following year that auto expenses is more advantageous during tax time, are there any limitations for switching back and forth year to year? This is my first year as an LLC. 

View solution in original post

IamjuViel
QuickBooks Team

Should I use the owner draw or auto expense category to account for business fuel and car repair expenses? I'm using mileage and I'm an LLC and sole prop.

Hello, @amandah.

 

When claiming deductions for vehicle-related expenses, you can choose either the standard mileage method or the actual expense method.

 

However, you'll have to choose the standard mileage rate to calculate vehicle expenses in the first year you use the car for business. By doing so, you can choose to switch back and forth between the methods from year to year without penalty.

 

Just a heads-up, you'll no longer be able to switch to standard mileage rate once you use actual expenses for the vehicle on the first year you used it for business. You must continue using the actual expenses method as long as you use that car for business. 

 

I'd suggest consulting with an accountant or a tax professional so you'll be guided in choosing which method will be the most advantageous for your business. You can read through this article for more information on how the two methods work: Differences between standard mileage and actual expenses

 

On the other hand, you can browse these articles to learn more about tracking mileage in QuickBooks:

Lastly, you can read through these articles to learn more about claiming potential deductions:

Should you have other questions, don’t hesitate to visit us here.  I’m always here to help.

View solution in original post

5 Comments 5
Rustler
Level 15

Should I use the owner draw or auto expense category to account for business fuel and car repair expenses? I'm using mileage and I'm an LLC and sole prop.

You book the actual expenses during the tax year if you pay for it with company funds/CC

then at tax time, you either

use the mileage rate

or

actual expenses (fuel, oil, tires, depreciation, insurance, etc etc)

amandah
Level 1

Should I use the owner draw or auto expense category to account for business fuel and car repair expenses? I'm using mileage and I'm an LLC and sole prop.

Thanks. If I determine that mileage is more advantageous one year but find the following year that auto expenses is more advantageous during tax time, are there any limitations for switching back and forth year to year? This is my first year as an LLC. 

IamjuViel
QuickBooks Team

Should I use the owner draw or auto expense category to account for business fuel and car repair expenses? I'm using mileage and I'm an LLC and sole prop.

Hello, @amandah.

 

When claiming deductions for vehicle-related expenses, you can choose either the standard mileage method or the actual expense method.

 

However, you'll have to choose the standard mileage rate to calculate vehicle expenses in the first year you use the car for business. By doing so, you can choose to switch back and forth between the methods from year to year without penalty.

 

Just a heads-up, you'll no longer be able to switch to standard mileage rate once you use actual expenses for the vehicle on the first year you used it for business. You must continue using the actual expenses method as long as you use that car for business. 

 

I'd suggest consulting with an accountant or a tax professional so you'll be guided in choosing which method will be the most advantageous for your business. You can read through this article for more information on how the two methods work: Differences between standard mileage and actual expenses

 

On the other hand, you can browse these articles to learn more about tracking mileage in QuickBooks:

Lastly, you can read through these articles to learn more about claiming potential deductions:

Should you have other questions, don’t hesitate to visit us here.  I’m always here to help.

chandrasoleprop
Level 1

Should I use the owner draw or auto expense category to account for business fuel and car repair expenses? I'm using mileage and I'm an LLC and sole prop.

IRS link: https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc510 seems to talk only about self-employed (Schedule C and Schedule F). Does the standard mileage rate only apply for sole props? What is the form that we claim the deduction in? 

Leroy105
Level 2

Should I use the owner draw or auto expense category to account for business fuel and car repair expenses? I'm using mileage and I'm an LLC and sole prop.

@Rustler -- come tax time, do you reconcile book usage of the company car vs. personal usage via Schedule M?  (I have a company car, 75% business, 25% personal -- company funds pay for actual expenses, but on our books the expenses will then be overstated and 25% won't tie out).

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