Should money reimbursed to truck drivers be income taxable?

[Omaha Rocks]

It's very simple to remember - and actually works if all the paper-work is filed correctly: Net profit is taxable.

That's about the extent of it.

[Chatteress]

No ... If a trucker is being reimbursed for expenses that he/she paid out of pocket; it should not be taxable as the trucker was technically loaning the employer the money to cover those expenses. Why should a lender have to pay taxes on the money lent out?

[TKramar]

Because the company could choose NOT to reimburse you at all. You get paid X amount of money, and then pay Y in expenses. You're left with X-Y, but you've still been taxed on X. If the employer pays you for Y, then you've received X+Y from the employer, but paid out Y. You've gotten more money. And you're taxed on that money.

You buy food out of your income, right? Do you expect to be reimbursed for that?