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<DIV><SPAN class=046543805-08052007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>At the
end of the year I deduct all my business miles, as a business expense, at
whatever the governments going rate is for that year. I can't believe that it's
possible to both charge the customer for those miles and then deduct them as
well. Is it? I would think that it's either one or the other. Which one benefits
us the most?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=046543805-08052007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=046543805-08052007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>--
Geoff Sykes</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=046543805-08052007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>--
Assoc. Los Angeles</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=046543805-08052007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=046543805-08052007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=046543805-08052007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
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<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left><FONT
face=Tahoma size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <B>On Behalf Of
</B>Cy Shuster<BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday, May 07, 2007 10:11 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
Pianotech List<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: charge for time?<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Most customers know the IRS mileage rates for business
expenses, as it's the rate they get back when they use their car for
business:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><A
href="http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=163828,00.html">http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=163828,00.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>This is a good thing for them, so they think of it kindly,
and it has an independent rationale (rather than being an arbitrary
fee).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>I charge about half of that as a separately listed mileage
fee for trips of more than about half an hour away from home. I set my
trip odometer to zero at home, and note what it is when I get onsite, and
charge for the round trip. If the price of gas goes way up, I adjust the
rate accordingly. By using the round trip, it's pretty easy for
customers to verify with Mapquest.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>I also split the charge between all customers on the same
day (because I schedule them in the same area). This encourages them to
find other customers for me, and it's a win/win/win for all of
us.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Dan Levitan has a great concept to use: establish a
"policy". This lets you make exceptions, without rolling over
completely. For example, "My policy is to charge for mileage on
out-of-town trips, but in this case, Mrs. Jones, I'm waiving it for
you.".</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>--Cy--</FONT></DIV>
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