With the year coming to an end, taxes will soon be a hot topic. However, as an owner-operator, things are a little different. There are several benefits to help you keep more money in your pocket if you understand how to file taxes as an owner-operator.
Taxes are part of the business, but nobody hands you a playbook. This post is for individuals running their own truck—people who want simple answers, real strategies, and a clear path to keeping more of what they earn.
What You Can Deduct as an Owner-Operator
Owner-operators get some of the best deductions in small business. The problem? Most drivers don’t know what counts. They end up handing the IRS more money than necessary. Let’s fix that.
Fuel
Your biggest expense is your biggest deduction. If your truck burns it, you can write it off.
Maintenance & Repairs
Everything from tires to brakes to oil changes. If it keeps your wheels spinning, it qualifies.
Truck Payments or Lease Costs
Whether you own or lease, the business portion is deductible. If it’s a full-time work truck, that’s usually 100%.
Insurance
Cargo, liability, bobtail, physical damage—your policies are all deductible.
Permits & Fees
IFTA, UCR, IRP, HUT, tolls, scale fees. The IRS isn’t fun, but at least they let you deduct the cost of following their rules.
Depreciation
Big equipment like trucks and trailers can be depreciated over years or taken upfront with Section 179. This one alone can save thousands.
Meals on the Road
Per-diem rates apply whenever you’re away from home for work. Those trips add up.
Lodging
Hotel stays for business are deductible.
Office Supplies & Business Tools
Your laptop, GPS, dispatching software, ELDs, printers, notebooks—everything you use to run the back office.
Professional Services
Tax prep, bookkeeping, legal help, compliance guidance—all deductible.
Training & Education
Courses, coaching programs, e-books, certifications, dispatch training. If it helps your business run better, it counts.
Advertising & Marketing
Logos, websites, business cards, ads—all deductible investments in your brand.
How to Prepare for Tax Season Without Losing Your Mind
Here’s how to make tax time painless.
1. Separate Your Business Money From Your Personal Money
Open a business checking account and a business credit card.
Stop mixing receipts with grocery runs. The IRS hates mystery charges.
2. Save Every Receipt
If you can’t prove it, you can’t deduct it.
Use a scanning app or bookkeeping software so receipts don’t vanish like socks in a dryer.
3. Track Your Mileage and Days on the Road
You need accurate records for per-diem and proof of travel. Your ELD logs are gold here.
4. Pay Quarterly Taxes
No one is withholding taxes for you.
Miss your quarterlies, and you’ll meet the IRS penalty fairy—and she doesn’t hand out treats.
5. Work With a Tax Professional Who Knows Trucking
Not every accountant understands:
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multi-state income
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per-diem
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truck depreciation
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DOT and FMCSA paperwork
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lease vs owner deductions
You want someone who knows trucking, not someone who asks, “So… what exactly is IFTA?”
6. Keep Your Books Updated Monthly
Staying organized month to month is easier than sorting 12 months of chaos at once.
7. Set Aside 20–30% of Your Income
Most drivers use this rule of thumb so they’re never caught off guard at tax time.
The More Organized You Are, the More You Keep
Taxes are part of being an owner-operator, but they don’t have to be scary. When you know what to deduct, track your expenses, and stay ready for quarterlies, you stop bleeding money. Suddenly you’re not guessing—you’re planning.
And the best part? You keep more of your hard-earned cash instead of donating it to the IRS.
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