Can I claim mileage deduction on 1099 for commuting to my contractor job location?

Your boss is likely mistaken. The IRS looks at the substance of your work relationship, not just what's on paper. Being classified as a 1099 contractor doesn't automatically make your regular commute to the shop deductible. The general rule is that commuting from home to your regular workplace is considered a personal expense and isn't deductible - regardless of whether you're a W2 employee or 1099 contractor. If the carpentry shop is your regular place of business, then driving there is still considered commuting. What would be deductible is driving from the shop to various job sites. Keep track of those miles if applicable. Also, if you occasionally work at a temporary location that's not your regular workplace, that mileage might be deductible. On a separate note, it sounds like you might be misclassified as an independent contractor. If your boss controls when and where you work and provides equipment, you're likely an employee under IRS rules - regardless of receiving a 1099. This misclassification can have significant tax implications beyond just mileage.

I had a similar issue last year and discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which was incredibly helpful for sorting through contractor vs. employee classification questions. Their system analyzed my work situation and tax documents, then gave me specific guidance on what I could legitimately deduct as a contractor. For your specific mileage question, the tool was clear that regular commuting to a fixed workplace isn't deductible even for contractors. But it did help me identify several other legitimate deductions I hadn't considered - tools I purchased, a portion of my phone bill used for work calls, and specialized clothing required for the job. What I found most helpful was that it clarified exactly what documentation I needed to keep for each deduction in case of an audit. Definitely made me feel more confident when filing.

Just wanted to update after trying taxr.ai. The analysis confirmed I was pretty clearly misclassified as a contractor based on my work conditions. The site helped me understand exactly what documentation I needed for the proper forms and walked me through the difference between typical contractor deductions versus employee expenses. I ended up having a surprisingly productive conversation with my boss after showing him the detailed analysis. He wasn't trying to be deceptive - he just didn't understand the proper classification rules. We're transitioning to proper W2 employment next quarter which will actually save me money on self-employment taxes in the long run. For anyone in a similar situation, definitely worth getting clarity on your specific situation rather than just taking your employer's word on what's deductible!

If you're trying to get clarification directly from the IRS about proper classification or deductible mileage, good luck trying to reach them on the phone. I spent literal DAYS trying to get through last year. Then I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and watched their demo (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) - they actually got me connected to a real IRS agent within about 15 minutes. The agent confirmed everything others have said here - regular commute to a fixed location isn't deductible even for contractors, and based on my description, I was likely misclassified. Having that official confirmation was worth it, especially for documentation if there's ever an issue with my return. For what it's worth, the IRS agent I spoke with said contractor misclassification is one of their top enforcement priorities right now, so getting this sorted out sooner rather than later is probably smart.

I need to apologize for calling Claimyr a scam. I was super skeptical but decided to try it anyway after continuing to fail getting through to the IRS myself. It actually worked exactly as advertised - I got a call connecting me to an IRS representative after about 25 minutes. The IRS agent I spoke with confirmed that my daily drive to the carpentry shop (similar situation to the original poster) wasn't deductible, even as a 1099 contractor. She also reviewed the factors of my work situation and strongly suggested I was misclassified. The most valuable part was that she explained exactly what evidence I should start documenting now to support proper classification if there's ever a dispute. Definitely worth the time to get official clarification straight from the source.

I work in construction and most of our crews are legit independent contractors. The big difference is we actually run our own businesses, use our own tools, set our own schedules, and work for multiple companies. A real test the IRS uses: can you make decisions about how the work gets done? Do you have the opportunity for profit or loss? Do you work for multiple clients? If your boss tells you when to show up, how to do the work, and provides the tools, you're an employee regardless of the 1099. And no, commuting miles to a fixed workplace are never deductible. But tools, supplies, work clothes, etc could be if you're actually a proper contractor.

Has anyone used TurboTax to handle this kind of situation? Do they have a good section for sorting out 1099 deductions vs employee expenses? Trying to figure out if I need to pay for a CPA this year.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation and wanted to share what I learned from my research. The key issue here isn't just the mileage deduction - it's the misclassification problem that several others have mentioned. For the mileage question specifically: No, you cannot deduct your daily commute to the carpentry shop, even as a 1099 contractor. The IRS considers travel from your home to your regular place of business as personal commuting expenses, regardless of your tax classification. However, here's what you CAN potentially deduct as a legitimate contractor: - Travel between different job sites (not from home to the first site) - Tools and equipment you purchase yourself - Work-related supplies - Portion of vehicle expenses for business use (not commuting) - Professional development/training costs But here's the bigger concern - based on your description, you're likely misclassified. If your boss controls your schedule, provides tools, and treats you like an employee, you should probably be getting a W-2. This misclassification is costing you money in additional self-employment taxes. I'd recommend tracking your actual work arrangement details (who provides tools, who sets your schedule, do you work for other companies, etc.) and consider getting professional guidance on whether to challenge your classification with the IRS.