How we research, date and correct our money guides

Who writes and checks

Guides, calculators and term pages are written and reviewed by Richard Bailey. His byline and the "Updated" date on each page show who is responsible for it and when it was last checked against its sources.

Primary sources only

Tax rates, per diem rates, depreciation limits, filing dates and fees come from the agency that sets them: the IRS (publications, notices and form instructions, with the tax year), IFTA, Inc. (the Articles of Agreement and the quarterly tax rate matrix, with the quarter), each base jurisdiction's revenue department, FMCSA and the eCFR for federal rules, and CARB for California programs. Fuel prices come from the U.S. Energy Information Administration's weekly series, refreshed every time the site is built. Market rates and cost studies come from the organization that published them (for example DAT or ATRI), with the date and method named.

One file for every number

Every rate, date and limit shown on the site lives in a single data file with its source link and the date we checked it. Calculators and pages read from that file, so when a figure changes we change it once and every page updates together.

Update schedule

• Diesel prices: refreshed from EIA on each site build, normally weekly.
• IFTA rates and dates: checked each quarter when IFTA, Inc. publishes the new matrix.
• IRS figures (per diem, mileage rate, Section 179, estimated tax dates): checked each tax year and whenever the IRS issues a mid-year change.
• State tables, product facts and partner prices: re-verified at least every 12 months, and before any page states a price.

Products and companies

Fuel cards, software, banks, credit cards, lenders and factoring companies are described only from their own public pages, with the date we checked. We don't invent rankings, fees, ratings or reviews, and card or lending terms are always "subject to approval, check the issuer's current terms". Partner relationships are listed on our disclosure page and never decide what a guide says.

Examples and estimates

Sample loads, weeks, invoices and receipts are labeled EXAMPLE, use made-up names such as "Carrier A LLC", and are drawn so they can't pass as real documents. Where a number is an estimate, we say so and show how it was made.

What we don't do

We don't give personal tax, legal or financial advice, and we never suggest improper deductions or under-reporting miles or fuel. Every tax page says so and points you to a tax professional.

Corrections

Found a number that doesn't match its source, or a source that has changed? Tell us at our contact page with the page and the figure. We check it against the source, fix it, and update the page date.