I’m a rideshare driver. Why can’t I access the Car Cleaning expense anymore?

We removed the "Car Cleaning" expense category from the "Rideshare" job’s expense list from the Stride app.

Typically, routine car washes and cleaning count as "maintenance" expenses, and are included in the standard mileage rate. However, rideshare drivers buy car washes at a rate that is far above the norm, and for reasons other than maintenance (since car cleanliness is expected for rideshare drivers).

While Stride believes this expense should be allowed, it has unfortunately come to our attention that some tax preparers may not allow you to claim this expense.

If you had saved a "Car Cleaning" expense to your account at any point, that expense will still appear in your deduction report, which you can access via the menu of your app. Going forward, the "Car Cleaning" expense category will no longer be available. 

Stride still believes this expense should be deductible; if you'd like to deduct your car cleaning expense, we recommend using the "Other Expenses" section of your Schedule C to deduct it on your tax return.

As a reminder, if you still would like to track any car cleaning costs in the Stride app, you can use the "Other" expense category, but we do recommend double-checking with a tax professional. 

Read more about standard mileage deduction vs. the actual expense method here!