Residential and commercial properties, waste disposal.
Landscapers drive all day between residential and commercial properties pulling trailers of equipment, which raises fuel consumption in a differentiated way. Every property visited and every dump run is a deductible trip, and spring-fall seasonality makes the volume swing drastically. Documenting each trip on a receipt turns the daily route into a tax deduction and a per-client margin analysis.
Common pains
Trailer-pulling traffic — Towing equipment raises fuel consumption and, in some US states, changes the applicable rate.
Disposal trips to the landfill — The run to the landfill/dump to drop green waste is work travel that often goes unlogged.
Spring-fall seasonality — Service volume swings drastically between seasons, making it hard to keep the log consistent.
Best practices
Tag "with trailer" on the receipt — Flagging trailer use ensures the differentiated rate and extra consumption are accounted for.
Log dump trips — Record every landfill run, since this deductible trip is frequently forgotten.
Use a cost center per property — Assigning a cost center to each property enables per-client margin analysis.
Frequently asked questions
Does the trailer change the rate?
In some US states, yes; pulling a trailer can change the applicable mileage rate.
Do landfill trips count?
Yes, waste disposal is part of the operation and the trip is deductible.
Does seasonality affect the deduction?
No, the deduction is figured per worked month, so slow seasons do not void the right.
Landscapers who document every route recover up to US$ 14,500/year (with trailer).