Receipt Scanner & Expense Tracker for Truckers
Owner-operators and 1099 truck drivers report income on Schedule C and pay 15.3 percent self-employment tax, so fuel, repairs, the per diem, and truck costs are major deductions. NeoReceipt captures every fuel and repair receipt on the road and files it under the right Schedule C category automatically.
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Key takeaways
- Owner-operators file Schedule C and pay income tax plus 15.3 percent self-employment tax on net profit.
- Fuel, repairs, maintenance, and truck depreciation are usually a trucker's largest deductions.
- Drivers subject to DOT hours-of-service rules can claim a daily meal per diem while away from home.
- Capturing fuel and repair receipts on the road all year lowers both self-employment and income tax.
Deductions owner-operators and 1099 truck drivers can track
NeoReceipt sorts each receipt into the matching IRS Schedule C category.
Fuel & DEF
Diesel, def, fuel surcharges
Repairs & maintenance
Parts, tires, labor, oil
Truck & trailer
Payment or depreciation, lease
Insurance
Liability, cargo, physical damage
Per diem (meals)
DOT daily meal allowance
Permits & licenses
CDL, IFTA, IRP, heavy-use tax
Tolls & parking
Tolls, scales, lot fees
Phone & ELD
Phone, ELD, load-board apps
Supplies & gear
Straps, gloves, tools, bedding
Lodging
Motels on overnight hauls
Professional services
Dispatch, accounting fees
Health & retirement
Self-employed health, SEP IRA
Estimate what you'll owe with the 1099 tax calculator and self-employment tax calculator.
Tax deductions for truck drivers and owner-operators
If you drive under your own authority or as a 1099 contractor, nearly every cost of operating your truck is deductible on Schedule C. The biggest write-offs are fuel and DEF, repairs and maintenance, tires, the truck and trailer (by depreciation or lease payments), insurance, permits and licenses (CDL, IFTA, IRP, the heavy highway use tax), tolls and scale fees, the meal per diem, lodging on overnight runs, your phone and ELD, and supplies like straps and gloves. Every dollar you deduct reduces both your income tax and your 15.3 percent self-employment tax.
How are owner-operators and 1099 truckers taxed?
As a self-employed driver you report your settlement income on Schedule C and pay self-employment tax of 15.3 percent plus income tax on your net profit. Carriers and brokers who pay you 600 dollars or more usually issue a 1099-NEC, but all of your income is reportable regardless of forms. Because nothing is withheld from a settlement, you typically make quarterly estimated payments. The upside is that your fuel, repairs, and truck costs are deductible, so tracking every receipt can meaningfully lower what you owe.
How does the truck driver per diem work?
Drivers subject to the Department of Transportation hours-of-service rules can deduct a daily meal per diem for full days away from home, instead of saving every meal receipt. The per diem covers meals and incidental expenses on overnight trips. Keep a simple log of the days you were out on the road, and keep your other receipts (fuel, repairs, lodging) in NeoReceipt so the rest of your deductions are documented and ready for your accountant.
How to track receipts on the road
The hardest part of trucking taxes is capturing receipts while you are driving. Snap each fuel and repair receipt with your phone the moment you get it, and NeoReceipt reads the amount and files it under the right Schedule C category, storing the image for substantiation. Forward emailed receipts and load-board invoices to your NeoReceipt inbox address too. At tax time you export one clean report instead of digging through a glovebox of crumpled receipts.
Common tax mistakes truckers make
Drivers often lose fuel and repair receipts, forget the per diem, miss smaller costs like scales, tolls, and supplies, and fail to set aside money for self-employment tax. Mixing personal and truck expenses on the same card without separating them is another common issue. Capturing every receipt as it happens and reviewing categories before filing prevents lost deductions and keeps you ready if the IRS asks for records.
From receipt to deduction in seconds
Snap or upload
Photograph any receipt, or forward email receipts to your inbox address.
AI categorizes it
We read the merchant, date, and total, then assign the right Schedule C line.
Export at tax time
Download a clean CSV grouped by category for you or your accountant.
Built for owner-operators and 1099 truck drivers
Stop leaving deductions in a shoebox. NeoReceipt captures every receipt and keeps your Schedule C totals ready all year.
Get started freeFrequently asked questions
What can truck drivers deduct on taxes?+
Fuel and DEF, repairs and maintenance, tires, the truck and trailer, insurance, permits and licenses (CDL, IFTA, IRP, heavy-use tax), tolls and scales, the meal per diem, lodging, phone and ELD, and supplies are all common Schedule C deductions for owner-operators.
How much is the truck driver per diem?+
DOT-regulated drivers can claim a daily meal and incidental per diem for full days away from home instead of itemizing meal receipts. Keep a log of your days on the road; confirm the current rate with a tax professional.
Can I deduct my truck payment?+
You deduct the truck through depreciation (or lease payments if you lease), plus fuel, repairs, insurance, and operating costs. Keep every receipt in NeoReceipt to back it up.
Do owner-operators pay self-employment tax?+
Yes, 15.3 percent on net profit, plus income tax. Use our self-employment tax calculator to estimate it, and track deductions to lower the base it is applied to.
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Why truckers choose NeoReceipt
Real reviews from freelancers and contractors who capture every deduction with NeoReceipt.
NeoReceipt saved me during tax season. As a freelance graphic designer, I had receipts scattered across emails and folders. In just three months, NeoReceipt automatically categorized over 400 receipts and helped me identify nearly $2,300 in deductible expenses I would have otherwise missed.
I drive for Uber and DoorDash full-time, and tracking gas and maintenance receipts was a nightmare. After switching to NeoReceipt, I reduced my bookkeeping time from 4 hours a week to less than 20 minutes and had every expense ready for my accountant.
As a real estate agent, I'm constantly on the road and collecting receipts from multiple vendors. NeoReceipt helped me recover over $4,100 in business deductions last year by ensuring nothing slipped through the cracks.
Reviews from early NeoReceipt users. Individual results vary.