Per Diem Calculator
A rough estimate of your annual per diem deduction and potential tax savings, based on days on the road.
Your year on the road
Check the current IRS special per diem rate for transportation workers before filing; this default may be out of date.
Transportation workers subject to DOT hours of service can typically deduct a higher share of meal costs than the general rule; confirm with a tax professional.
Estimated per diem
A Texas Solutions dispatcher negotiates every rate and plans lanes around your cost per mile. Semi trucks 5%, hotshots 7%, box trucks 8% of weekly gross. You approve every load.
What does the Per Diem Calculator do?
Free per diem calculator for truck drivers: estimate your annual per diem deduction and potential tax savings based on days on the road. Not tax advice.
How this estimate is calculated
- Total per diem = days on the road × per diem rate per day
- Deductible amount = total per diem × deductible percentage
- Estimated tax savings = deductible amount × your marginal tax rate
All three inputs (rate, deductible percentage and your tax bracket) are editable because they depend on current IRS rules and your own situation. This tool is a planning aid, not a tax filing.
A driver is on the road 300 days at an example rate of $69 a day, 80% deductible, in a 22% bracket.
- Total per diem = 300 × $69 = $20,700
- Deductible = $20,700 × 80% = $16,560
- Estimated tax savings = $16,560 × 22% = $3,643
Check the current IRS rate before filing; this is not tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is per diem for truck drivers?
Per diem is a daily allowance the IRS publishes for meals and incidental expenses while traveling for work. Drivers away from home overnight for work can generally use it to estimate a meal and incidental expense deduction instead of tracking every receipt.
How much can truck drivers deduct for per diem?
It is generally the per diem rate times the number of days on the road, multiplied by the deductible percentage the IRS allows for transportation workers. Rates and percentages are set by the IRS and can change, so confirm the current figures before filing.
Is this per diem calculator tax advice?
No. It gives a rough estimate only. Talk to a tax professional about your specific situation, current IRS rates, and how per diem interacts with your pay structure (company driver vs. owner-operator).
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