I am dutifully tracking my mileage to a shop and from one shop to the next shop. I have been under the impression that the return home mileage is not deductible UNLESS I happen to make a business related stop on the way home such as picking up office supplies. Even then, the mileage to the store is deductible while the mileage from the store to home is not. The way I read the rules, the return trip is considered commuting which is not considered tax deductible.
However, I recall seeing something but now I can't find it that indicated the IRS does allow deducting the return mileage for distinct business trips. That is unless you make a personal stop on the way home such as going to the grocery store (for personal shopping, not a grocery shop) or getting a coffee at which point you can only count the mileage when you stopped for the personal shopping. The distinct business trip is not your normal day-to-day job so none of the trip is considered commuting until a personal component is introduced.
Anyone know that this has been firmly clarified in tax law that the return trip is or is not tax deductible or falls under the currently unresolved, take the deduction at your own risk situation?
However, I recall seeing something but now I can't find it that indicated the IRS does allow deducting the return mileage for distinct business trips. That is unless you make a personal stop on the way home such as going to the grocery store (for personal shopping, not a grocery shop) or getting a coffee at which point you can only count the mileage when you stopped for the personal shopping. The distinct business trip is not your normal day-to-day job so none of the trip is considered commuting until a personal component is introduced.
Anyone know that this has been firmly clarified in tax law that the return trip is or is not tax deductible or falls under the currently unresolved, take the deduction at your own risk situation?