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Cargo/AMCI rankings?

Old 05-10-2023, 08:29 AM
  #21  
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Salary is compensation. 401K matching is compensation. Vision, dental, and medical insurance is compensation.

Per diem is no more compensation than providing a hotel in the field; that's the company's cost of doing business. It's there to enable the employee to eat and function in the field, but should never be considered part of one's compensation package.

If one manages to save a little per diem, perhaps by eating cheaply or less often, so be it; this isn't the company gracing the employee with extra income; this isn't pay or compensation. The hotel isn't compensation, nor is. the shuttle or the limo to get to the airport, and for ACMI carriers with home basing, the cost of the ticket to and from work isn't compensation either.
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Old 05-10-2023, 08:52 AM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by JohnBurke View Post
Salary is compensation. 401K matching is compensation. Vision, dental, and medical insurance is compensation.

Per diem is no more compensation than providing a hotel in the field; that's the company's cost of doing business. It's there to enable the employee to eat and function in the field, but should never be considered part of one's compensation package.

If one manages to save a little per diem, perhaps by eating cheaply or less often, so be it; this isn't the company gracing the employee with extra income; this isn't pay or compensation. The hotel isn't compensation, nor is. the shuttle or the limo to get to the airport, and for ACMI carriers with home basing, the cost of the ticket to and from work isn't compensation either.
If is compensation. The fact that you write 3 paragraphs about it doesn't change the facts.

If it can be used to calculate DTI for mortgage, it's compensation.
If part of it will be on your W2, it's compensation.
You arguing otherwise won't change reality.
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Old 05-10-2023, 10:00 AM
  #23  
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If per diem surpasses the allocated GSA amount that portion alone will be taxed hence the W-2 reference. It never showed before until we received higher rates (approximately 3 years ago due to CVD and then the CBA was adapted in 2021); therefore, it was never considered compensation = not taxable. Bottom line: only the taxable amount can be construed as compensation which is minimal at best. While not Federal for the most part, states do have regulatory requirements established for companies to provide per diem as it is a business expense.

*It’s an interesting subject. Only compensation regarding the taxed portion over and above the GSA limit and that’s your proof on paper. On the other hand if you’re home you pay for your food and rent/mortgage, etc. While away from the home front due to your company you should never pay for secondary accommodations or any additional consumables or expenditures - BUT you would have meals either way. Being in higher cost areas for meals makes it all good so there is some benefit perhaps. Mortgage wise per diem is not considered universally. All underwriter dependent.

Last edited by C17B74; 05-10-2023 at 10:21 AM.
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Old 05-11-2023, 12:58 AM
  #24  
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If you've got stockholm syndrome for your employer, you might be dumb enough to view perdiem as part of your compensation package. More's the pity for you.

When you grow up, you'll realize differently.
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Old 05-11-2023, 05:15 AM
  #25  
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Originally Posted by goinaround View Post
Just my personal opinion as a former K4 guy…..and it’s worth what you paid for it. I’d say as far as AMCI carriers go Atlas would be my #1. Kalitta next. I’d like to say Omni is right up there too….but the fact that they are now owned by ATSG gives me pause. I worked for an ATSG company in the past and I would not trust my career to an ATSG carrier. You’ll want to stick with home basing/gateway travel.
I was very concerned when ATSG bought us. They promised a pretty much hands off style since we were a cash cow and they didn’t want to spoil the milk.
in the past 4 years, that’s held true. For the most part they let our management run the company. Small things like payroll and synergy stuff like that has changed, but not much else.
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Old 05-11-2023, 05:19 AM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by dera View Post
If is compensation. The fact that you write 3 paragraphs about it doesn't change the facts.

If it can be used to calculate DTI for mortgage, it's compensation.
If part of it will be on your W2, it's compensation.
You arguing otherwise won't change reality.
Per Diem is an allowance purposed to cover costs directly associated with travel, such as food and other expenses.

Compensation is pay given to you because you performed work.

Whether per diem is on a W2 or not is outside the scope of this forum and is more an accounting issue. If your company pays per diem more than GSA rates, that "extra money" has to be categorized as income.

Per diem payments are not considered wages, and are therefore non-taxable, as long as the payment is equal to or less than the federal per diem rate. If you receive a per diem payment that is more than the federal per diem rate, you will be required to pay income tax withholding and payroll taxes, since the excess amount will be considered wages. Your employer should report this to you on a W-2 form.

If you can contribute per diem into your 401(k) or use it to build your Health Savings Account, let me know.
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Old 05-11-2023, 06:08 AM
  #27  
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Originally Posted by hercretired View Post
Per Diem is an allowance purposed to cover costs directly associated with travel, such as food and other expenses.

Compensation is pay given to you because you performed work.

Whether per diem is on a W2 or not is outside the scope of this forum and is more an accounting issue. If your company pays per diem more than GSA rates, that "extra money" has to be categorized as income.

Per diem payments are not considered wages, and are therefore non-taxable, as long as the payment is equal to or less than the federal per diem rate. If you receive a per diem payment that is more than the federal per diem rate, you will be required to pay income tax withholding and payroll taxes, since the excess amount will be considered wages. Your employer should report this to you on a W-2 form.

If you can contribute per diem into your 401(k) or use it to build your Health Savings Account, let me know.
Your definition of "compensation" is not correct, you get compensation and wages mixed up.

Per diem is not wages (apart from the GSA excess), but it is compensation.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compensation

For example, courts award damages as "compensation", and it has nothing to do with doing work.
Compensation means money paid to you, per diem by definition is that. It is compensation for out-of-pocket costs you may incur on the road.

Your wages, 401K DC or match, per diem are all compensation.
But your 401K DC or match, or per diem are not wages.
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Old 05-11-2023, 06:10 AM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by JohnBurke View Post
If you've got stockholm syndrome for your employer, you might be dumb enough to view perdiem as part of your compensation package. More's the pity for you.

When you grow up, you'll realize differently.
Little ad hominem always helps when you are wrong. But that has always been your MO.
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Old 05-11-2023, 06:20 AM
  #29  
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Interesting how if you receive more than the government levels of per diem it’s taxable but if you get less the tax deduction for that difference went away with the 2017 tax reform.
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Old 05-11-2023, 07:00 AM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by Cujo665 View Post
I was very concerned when ATSG bought us. They promised a pretty much hands off style since we were a cash cow and they didn’t want to spoil the milk.
in the past 4 years, that’s held true. For the most part they let our management run the company. Small things like payroll and synergy stuff like that has changed, but not much else.
Are you relatively happy there? I know you have butted heads with previous airlines that you have flown for.
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