Meals Deductions Back on the Hill

Truck drivers will get back to the 80% tax deduction for meals more quickly if legislation introduced in Congress May 19 becomes law.

A bill sponsored by Sen. Connie Mack (R-Fla.) speeds up reinstatement of the meal deduction for workers covered by federal hours-of-service regulations, a move mandated by the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997.

An identical bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Mac Collins (R-Ga.).

The legislation reauthorizing an 80% deduction would go into effect with the 2000 tax year. That compares with the 10 years it will take under the 1997 act.

Trucking is lobbying hard to accelerate that process.

"Right now, our drivers on the road . . . get less back for their business expenses than any other business person," said Walter B. McCormick Jr., president of American Trucking Associations.

"I think it should receive a lot of support," said Mack Trucks spokeswoman Nancy Segerdahl. "It's a question of fairness."

The 80% deduction for meals eaten on the road will cost federal coffers $50 million averaged over the 10 years of the phase-in, according to Michael Chakarun, ATA vice president of tax and economic policy.

For the full story, see the May 31 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.