Truckers’ meal tax break almost fully restored

OTTAWA — The Ministry of Finance continued serving up its meal tax allowance recipe for truck drivers this New Year.

As first promised in 2007, the government will fulfill its pledge to incrementally restore the deductible portion of meal expenses for long-haul truck drivers another five percent.

For expenses incurred in 2010, the allowance rises from 70 percent to 75 percent. For expenses incurred after 2010, the deductible portion rises to 80 percent — up from 50 percent when Ottawa made the change a few years ago.

"Long-haul truck drivers are some of our country’s hardest-working people," said Minister Flaherty in a press release. "They play a pivotal role in our economy as they transport goods across the country and across our borders. Our Government is pleased to support their important work by providing tax relief to these hard-working individuals."

In 2007, the Canadian Trucking Alliance and OBAC, with support from this magazine, launched the Lunch-bag Let-down Campaign, which inspired the mailing of nearly 5,000 postcards to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, urging him to increase the allowable proportion of meal costs drivers can expense on their personal or small business tax forms.