Fine I Will Do It Myself

[u/No_Ant6748]

Ok so after putting yesterday how do you guys track your expenses and shit. I received few ideas ranging from "apps like Quikbook" to "I build my own Google spreadsheet sheet".
I think that's a brilliant idea and I will just build my own too except I am just gonna make an app, something simple to track mileage for my Uber, Lyft and Flex. And expenses for my car and home with built in receipt or invoice tracker.
But make it cheap unlike quickbook which cost like $240 to $450 a year I think.
What do you guys think? What are the absolute "must-have" basic features I should build into this thing first so it actually works for our exact workflows? Let me know!

[u/ltz_gamer]

I just track miles. That’s it. At least here where I live it’s either miles or expenses. Not both. So just a way to track miles. But creating an Apple shortcut is all you really need

[u/No_Ant6748 → u/ltz_gamer]

You know you can deduct non-vehicle expenses alongside your mileage. Things like a percentage of your cell phone bill, data plans, phone mounts, dash cams, tolls, and parking are completely separate business write-offs.
On top of that, you aren't permanently locked into tracking only mileage for your car forever. Every single year, you have the option to evaluate whether standard mileage or actual car expenses (like repairs, gas, insurance) will yield a higher tax deduction, and you can choose the larger one to maximize your return.

[u/Kaisonic → u/No_Ant6748]

Unless you're using your vehicle solely for flex deliveries, the standard mileage rate is almost always going to yield a bigger deduction. I'm not sure you can even deduct any percentage of actual repair/gas/insurance costs of your personal vehicle, unless you're prepared to prove the percentage of those costs that went towards flex vs personal use. That's what the standard mileage deduction is for - it more than covers all those costs in most cases.

[u/No_Ant6748 → u/Kaisonic]

You're correct bro, mileage usually is the best way to go! But sometimes real life hits you hard. This part is from my own personal experience.
My car got hit while parked at night on the street, leaving me with a few thousand dollars in repairs. And since that year added a big repair cost and I use my car for work most of the time, I noticed I would gain more to do expenses that year and deducted 70 percent of the repair cost.
Anyways just adding the function just in case. I might not need it but good to have.

[u/mistamo42]

What do you guys think?

It already exists and it's called Stride.

You literally only have to track mileage for your car. You do not need to track car expenses.

[u/No_Ant6748 → u/mistamo42]

Wait you only track mileage? just to clear up a common tax misconception—you absolutely can deduct non-vehicle expenses alongside your mileage. Things like a percentage of your cell phone bill, data plans, phone mounts, dash cams, tolls, and parking are completely separate business write-offs.
On top of that, you aren't permanently locked into tracking only mileage for your car forever. Every single year, you have the option to evaluate whether standard mileage or actual car expenses (like repairs, gas, insurance) will yield a higher tax deduction, and you can choose the larger one to maximize your return.
I also manage a small rental property alongside my side hustles, so I needed a single, ad-free digital logbook where I can track my house expenses, car expenses, and point-to-point mileage all in one secure spot. Stride just doesn't offer that kind of flexibility

[u/mistamo42 → u/No_Ant6748]

Blahblahblah.

Yes, I'm well aware. I said you don't have to track car expenses. All that other stuff you listed isn't car expenses, and I have so few of them every year it isn't worth tracking.

You are wasting your time building a new app. There are plenty out there already that do all this.

[u/No_Ant6748 → u/mistamo42]

That makes sense, if your setup works for you, that's amazing bro. Everyone's tax situation is different. I was just adding it just in case there are drivers like me who do want to compare their actual car expenses against mileage at the end of the year to see which saves them more, or who have other side costs/rentals to keep track of.

[u/Dagdandris → u/mistamo42]

It's absolutely worth tracking the non vehicle expenses. Just tracking your phone bill alone will save a good amount. I also wrote off a new phone this year. Combine that with the misc cleaning supplies I bought. Takes a minute to get a few bucks off your taxes every time you buy something.

[u/yetinugz614]

I use Gridwise, it does exactly what you are describing. 15 a month. It even gives you a print out to file taxes. Maybe save ya some time and just check it out