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Yep but in some cities the Taxi medallion to "license" the cab is $400,000-500,000, plus insurance, etc.
Also keep in mind most used taxis were $5000 ex-police cars so for the cab company the first 25 rented days means the car itself is paid in full!
Maybe in Boston "Most used taxis were... ex-police cars", but that is not true in Manhattan/NYC.
Yes, the Crown Victoria once ruled NYC streets as the most recent yellow cab of choice, but they were most always new. Today however there are a variety of vehicles ranging from SUVs and minivans to Nissans or Toyotas.
Personally wish we'd take a page here from Europe and get some Mercedes-Benz or BMW taxis, but outside of private "town car" type services don't see that happening.
If the yellow taxi industry dies than so be it. The drivers are smelly, incourteous animals to begin with who can barely speak English and drive even worse. I would rather press a button for a cab, have it come directly to me and not have to worry about some body else getting it before me.
People don't have to do it if they don't want to. The way I understand it it's a way for people to make a few extra bucks. It's convenient for the drivers and real convenient for the passengers.
And what happens when they get into a car accident? I highly doubt these people are telling their car insurance they're now using their cars as cabs.
For those jobs listed the ONLY REAL one they can use is "miles driven"
I don't think so. There is part of smart phone or computer to track jobs that come in, office work expenses, home office deduction, toll and parking fees (if the customer doesn't pay them), clothing (if uber requires a certain type of outfit), car expenses (part of your insurance and car maintenance).
Even if all those things don't amount to much, there is a standard allowable "self employment deduction" that gives a worker a deduction for self employment expenses, which a taxpayer can choose to use instead of itemizing.
The only mileage you can deduct is mileage that the customer didn't pay for, like mileage to and from the pickup and dropoff location.
If the yellow taxi industry dies than so be it. The drivers are smelly, incourteous animals to begin with who can barely speak English and drive even worse. I would rather press a button for a cab, have it come directly to me and not have to worry about some body else getting it before me.
When home on SI of course one drives. In the City can count on one hand the times have used a yellow taxi in the past year. Even then if it wasn't for the Amex points for fare program probably wouldn't have bothered.
Either walk, take the subway or bus and or use a car share service.
$200 per day? Really? That's enough to buy a $36,000 car and have it paid off in just 6 months, FWIW.
The $200 per day goes to pay for the $500,000 or so medallion that allows the vehicle to be used as a taxi. Government-supported extortion. Hopefully competition from Uber and others will drive this price down….to zero.
The $200 per day goes to pay for the $500,000 or so medallion that allows the vehicle to be used as a taxi. Government-supported extortion. Hopefully competition from Uber and others will drive this price down….to zero.
Not zero here in NYC, but none the less value of taxi medallions are dropping.
The area is obviously in a legal hassle. And the 1099 side has lost mostly in recent decisions.
There is also a working Federal case in CA where the drivers have been certified as a class. That one could really sting Uber.
So the area is not resolved.
I'm not sure that the Calif. class action case will get to far with regards to Uber drivers being employees entitled to minimum wage. And employee is told by management what the hours are, the start and finish times, and the location where they work. Independent contractors are not bound by these restrictions. I think a lot of Uber drivers would find themselves very unhappy when the company say "we have too many of you in San Francisco on Saturdays and Sundays, so we will restrict the number of on duty Uber drivers those days. By the way, some of you will be required to work the 8 pm to 5 am shift because there's nobody out there."
I agree with those advocating more 1099 workers. The income tax system slams wage earners.Self employed and contractors and 1099 folks have a lot more deductions, and by extension a higher net generally speaking, dollar for dollar earned.
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