Do you save guidelines/CPI for every shop?

When I first started, I saved the guidelines for every shop. I thought it would be needed if I were ever audited. That seemed to be too much effort, and I've stopped doing it. I figured emails would be enough proof of a shop if audited. What do you think? I keep track of the shop ID (if there is one) in a spreadsheet as well.

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I actually don't but I will in the future save a online copy in case disputes come up.

If you mean a tax audit... probably of no use at all. Just keep a spreadsheet of your shops, expenses, fees and reimbursements. The IRS is obligated to accept contemporaneous records of transactions, mileage, etc. That is what your spreadsheet will be. Heck, even your calendar showing what dates you shopped what for which MSC is acceptable. (Based on 50+ years of being an IC., including one audit.) All of this from the tax attorney who has addressed the IMSC conferences several times.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

I download the guidelines and save them in the folder for that shop, along with receipts, photos, etc. At the end of the month I copy the whole month to a USB.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/02/2019 02:11AM by panama18.

Once I'm paid for the shop, the guidelines are tossed!

I'm a tech dinosaur, so don't do spreadsheets. What I have is a contemporaneous record of mileage (written in when I get gas, and kept in the car), and the FIRST PAGE of CPI/report, whatever shows the address and POV of the shop.

However, I normally complete only 20-40 shops a month (4-9 shops might keep me on the road for 3 days on an 800 mile route); it would be a pretty clumsy method for those road warriors who think nothing of completing 40+ shops in a weekend!

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Do you save guidelines/CPI for every shop?

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