Pro-Diem and good SEA area tax person?
 

Yes, it's getting to be that time of year....tax season. I've heard a lot of folks talking about pro-diem and think I will take the leap this year. Can anyone attest to it's effectiveness and/or give personal examples of how it helped them?

Does anyone know of a good airline-friendly tax preparer in the greater Seattle/Tacoma area?

If you are forced based, can you claim your crash-pad/hotel?

If you are in the reserves, ie, second job, can you claim the gas & miles to that second job?

I know, a lot of questions but figured I'd throw them out there. Thanks in advance.
Pelican

I've used pro-diem in the past, they are not bad... good service but the website/process is a little overwhelming in my opinion. I switched to ezperdiem.com and then to perdiemcalc.com since I do my own taxes and these other services were cheaper and as long as you don't mind entering your own overnights, much easier (in my opinion).

Like I said I do my own taxes so I don't know any good CPA's but I am sure some other people can chime in with some.

There is a provision in the tax code that might allow you to deduct hotel/crash pad expenses... but only if you are temporarily based somewhere, and you can only do it for a max of one year. Gray area.

I don't think you can deduct any gas/miles to a 2nd job... but the military may have something special on that (sorry can't help more).

I have used pro-diem for years. Easy, fast and well worth the money. As a computer illiterate, if I screw it up they call me and walk me through the process. You will have the results in hours, or a day at the latest