MacGuy2

So SF3CA, what's the difference between the Per Diem sheets and the Pro Diem software? Seems like numbers are numbers. How did the software arrive at a $1,800 difference between what you added up using the Per Diem sheets available on PFC?

MG2

BTW, it looks like once you get into paying AMT, if I plugged in an extra $1800 into Turbo Tax for additional per diem related expenses, it made $0 difference on my Federal tax. Ain't AMT a wonderful thing....

Adlerdriver

Prodiem is not software. It's a company that calculates your per diem deduction after you send them last year's pairings.

I thought the same as you and a few others on this thread. I knew the process and had all the info, so why pay them to do something I could already do. I'm very thorough and know the drill. Last year I finally gave in and listened to someone saying what I'm now saying. I gambled $50 and sent them my stuff. I crunched my numbers as I've always done and compared them. They were actually similar to SF3CA - about a ~$1500 additional deduction resulting in about $300 more in my refund.

They have a method - it's theirs and that's why we pay them. It's approved by the IRS and they can legally stand by it. I can take their numbers, plug them into Turbo tax and get more money back - it's that simple. I have not met a person yet who has been able to generate legal per diem deductions on their own that beat prodiem.

They can't do anything about AMT so it may not be worth if for some. Those of you who think you've got it licked, I bet you don't. All I can say is give it a try. For most, it's worth it. (and no, I don't have a stake in this, I just wish I'd used it sooner).

SF3CA

I'm ANC based so everthing is paid as "international" per-diem. I would say I fly 80% Asia/Europe, and 20% lower 48.

I think the difference between Fedex's perdiem numbers and pro-diem's numbers is that Fedex reports the actual number of hours and minutes you spend on a layover. The IRS allows you to take 75 or 80 percent of a day, even if you were only there 1 hour. When you start adding all these fractions of days, you get quite a difference.

FlybyKnite

Agreed!! They got me extra $$ last year too, so this year I didn't even blink or reach for my calculator and sent my info off to ProDiem. If you do any international it's worth the cost.

MacGuy2

What info do you actually send Pro Diem?

It appears that if haven't been hit by AMT, Pro Diem is a good way to save a few more bucks. It also appears that if you're paying AMT you might as well save the $59. However, that's just my "non accountant pilot" opinion.

MG2

FDXLAG

Go to the prodiem webpage and click on the Fedex link they will tell you how to get it from vips.

viperdriver

Anyone know if they can figure out your AF Reserve time away from home also. That is more than FedEx per diem for me.

RA monkey

Overnitefr8

I guess this might be a stupid question, but I assume you give them the info for Jan - Dec pay, even though Jan pay is actually per diem from the previous year's Dec. You pay taxes on when you get the money, not earn it.

FlybyKnite

Download or print-out your trips from Dec to Nov (per diem trips that you were paid for last year). Need to be in summary format and zulu time. Then cut-n-paste into their file or mail the hardcopy to them.

I even added a YearEnd perdiem function to MagicWebFX that does it for you. It includes the your activity log for each month so you can cross-check trips and then just delete the activity log portion before you send it to them.

fedupbusdriver

I had that question when I signed up with them. They said that the IRS will take either way, as long as you do it the same each time. They said most of their clients do jan-dec instead of dec-nov. I chose dec-nov though.