I use human tax software, my trusty tax preparer!
Seriously, you do have more expenses than just mileage! Do you ever print out shop instructions or questionnaires? You can deduct some of the cost of ink and paper (proportionally to business use vs. personal use). Plus other office supplies you have to purchase in order to conduct your business.
You must use e-mail and the internet a great deal for communication with MSCs, checking job boards, accepting assignments, etc. You can deduct part of the monthly cost of internet/e-mail service (again, proportionally). Do you do any purchase shops? You should account for those by counting your total fee as gross income (assuming you receive your combined fee in a lump sum from the MSC), then deducting the costs of the purchases. (I think if reimbursements are paid separately, that might open up other issues if you get "fancy" with your bookkeeping. But I think, in simple cash-basis accounting, you can still roll the reimbursement into gross receipts, then deduct the cost of the purchase.)
If you don't have a cell phone, do you make a lot of land-line calls for mystery shopping, especially long-distance ones? Some of that can be written off. Are you ever out on all-day routes and stop to have lunch? You can deduct the cost of your meals.
If you really think about it, you incur many more expenses directly related to, and required by, mystery shopping. Some may not be worth the time spent in tracking them, but every little bit can add up to a nice fat, legitimate expense against income.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/10/2015 01:19PM by BirdyC.