Reimbursed Employment Expense

[anonymuse]

My employer will pay up to a certain amount for parking and/or bus fare tax free (we write it up on an expense report).

Do I add it to my income and then just subtract the parking/bus fare in my expenditures? Or do I just leave it out of both sides?

[Minnymouth]

Since this is company paid like a credit card would be it is not considered part of your income, I don't think......

You are actually spending company money..... even though you use yours first, they are just reimbursing you......

So it would wipe itself out on the income vs expenses and the amount would vary from month to month...... nothing definite....

Be sure to ask you attorney for sure...

[anonymuse]

Oh yes, the attorney will have the last say--but you guys are so great that I ask here until I can get there.

Just waiting for a call back to schedule my appointment to sign the papers for my retainer.

[lrprn]

Anon, I'm in a similar situation. My work requires travel to client sites all over the US. My employer pays a daily per diem based on government estimates of living costs in different U.S. cities. I pay most costs out of my own pocket (meals, taxis, phone calls, etc) and then am reimbursed via an expense report when I get back. Went through this very carefully with our lawyer before we filed Ch 13 and he decided that these reimbursements were NOT income since they are meant just to replace what I've already spent out of my own pocket.

Great news you are so close to signing your retainer - you've done such a good job researching your lawyer, things should go very well for you. Way to go!

[anonymuse]

Actually, get to sign the retainer tomorrow (got moved up due to paralegal's vacation)!

Basically, I feel like I've done 3 months of homework on here.

I filled out the forms using BestCase software--it's a lawyer's software and prints demo over everything, but it gave me a good idea of where I was going. Means test is a breeze since I'm under median. Heck, I've got more than enough expenses to prove no disposable income. (Just to be safe, I'm not getting rid of my cell phone ($50) until after my bk--pardon my pre-bk planning on that one.)

Just going through itemizing everything in my house--what a PITA--and putting it in a spreadsheet! Sometimes I can remember what I originally paid for things (like I can't forget a $34 coffee table and end table set sale!) and I'm putting the year I got it. I'm realizing that I really don't have a lot that I actually bought in the last decade! LOL I come from a family where my parents put a lot of money into their homes, furnitures, etc--all "things", tangible things. Then, when I got my own place, I acquired a couch, my bedroom set, two kitchen tables, and a hutch. Only big thing I've bought in the last 10 years is a sectional couch and chairs for the dining room table. Since my parents bought really good stuff, I acquired it and now have furniture that is 20-30 years old and in decent shape.

I've got everything in a HUGE spreadsheet with dozens of tabbed worksheets in it! That's definitely going to the paralegal--no need for her to retype creditor addresses and such.

I'm just getting into the tunnel, but I know there is a light at the end of it!

[Bobby'sGirl]

Way to go, Anon

I did my homework, too, much of it on this site. My attorney and his sec/paralegal keep saying they are amazed how smoothly this is going: Everything is in front of them so they know what questions to ask me. Mine is a bit complicated, too, not because of potential medical lawsuit, but because of some self-employment in past years with uncollected accounts from physicians (!!!) I did consulting for --- pick my brain but should be free, huh? Being prepared will help you feel in control of the situation more, and it is not as likely the lawyer will drop the ball on you. I don't expect to see money from the doctors, but would LOVE to have the US trustee go after them as potential payback for some of my creditors, he, he. :} (insert wicked grin here!)

[anonymuse]

I had one lawyer ask me in my consultation why aren't I filing on my own. I just said that you need to know your case like you're filing alone. But, on the other hand, I'm not about to do surgery on myself either. (A person that represents herself has a fool for a client.)

[djk]

I had one lawyer ask me in my consultation why aren't I filing on my own. I just said that you need to know your case like you're filing alone. But, on the other hand, I'm not about to do surgery on myself either. (A person that represents herself has a fool for a client.)

interesting post. and a good question, and hint, from the lawyer. As a Pro Se filer I've come to the conclusion that it requires trust in oneself and a big dose
of belief in oneselves abilities. A person who takes the leap of faith in representing oneself is not a fool, perhaps just somewhat thrifty. I mean, why spend the money if you can do it yourself? As I think that lawyer was trying to suggest. It's not surgery.

[anonymuse]

interesting post. and a good question, and hint, from the lawyer. As a Pro Se filer I've come to the conclusion that it requires trust in oneself and a big dose
of belief in oneselves abilities. A person who takes the leap of faith in representing oneself is not a fool, perhaps just somewhat thrifty. I mean, why spend the money if you can do it yourself? As I think that lawyer was trying to suggest. It's not surgery.

I have the potential for 2 issues that could complicate things so I figured it would be worth the $1100 for the attorney to make sure I could keep my house. If I was someone that didn't have a home or didn't want to keep it, then I'd do it myself.

Also, I please don't take it personally the old quote about a "fool for a client". I just thought it would be foolish for me in this case to risk so much--$1100 "insurance" to keep a $150K house--good investment in my situation.

[djk]

I just thought it would be foolish for me in this case to risk so much--$1100 "insurance" to keep a $150K house--good investment in my situation.

no doubt. I wish you the best and certainly hope that payment does in fact give you the results you seek.

[anonymuse]

no doubt. I wish you the best and certainly hope that payment does in fact give you the results you seek.

It's kind of weird since the more educated you get about BK, the more you realize what can go right and what can go wrong. I figured I couldn't be in my 341 meeting and say to the trustee "one second while I ask a question on bkforum.com!"

[Minnymouth]

LOL

WONDER WHAT HE WOULD SAY TO THAT........................

[anonymuse]

LOL

WONDER WHAT HE WOULD SAY TO THAT........................

It wouldn't surprise me if some attorneys and trustees have had a look at this site--and right now they're laughing seeing this post.