Mileage Tracking for Appraisers
Many appraisers drive 10,000 to 22,000 business miles a year. At the 2026 IRS standard rate of 72.5 cents per mile, that is a deduction range of $7,250 to $15,950 for the workers who can claim it.
Who can deduct
Most real estate appraisers are self-employed or contract through Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs) on a 1099 basis. Mileage is deductible on Schedule C at 72.5 cents per mile in 2026.
How appraisers actually drive
A full-time appraiser handling residential AMC work commonly logs 14,000 to 20,000 miles a year. Commercial appraisers covering wider territory log 18,000 to 22,000.
Typical deductible trips
The trips below are the ones appraisers most commonly forget to log, plus the obvious ones. Auto-tracking catches all of them, including the small ones that add up.
- Driving to property inspections (interior and exterior)
- Driving to comparable-sale drive-bys
- Driving to county recorder offices, MLS offices, or title companies for research
- Driving to client meetings (lenders, attorneys, owners)
- Driving to USPAP-required CE classes and license renewals
How TruMile helps
TruMile auto-detects every drive using motion plus location, so the trips above get logged whether you remember them or not. Smart classification learns your repeat routes (between regular client homes, between job sites, to your supply store) and starts tagging them automatically after a few trips.
At year-end, one tap turns your trip log into an IRS-compliant CSV or PDF you can hand to your accountant or paste into Schedule C. The math is already done.
Free for 40 auto trips a month, every month. If you are anywhere near the high end of the typical mileage range, the unlimited Pro tier at $7.99 a month or $59.99 a year usually pays for itself in the first week of tax season.
FAQ for appraisers
Are drive-by comparables deductible miles?
Yes. Drives to photograph or verify comparable properties for an appraisal report are part of the appraisal work and deductible.
I run a hybrid practice with both AMC and direct lender work. One Schedule C?
Yes. As long as both income streams are appraisal services, they go on one Schedule C. The mileage from all jobs is combined.
What if I get an appraisal request 90 miles away that I decline to take?
Driving is not deductible if you did not actually take the assignment. The deductible miles are tied to a clear business purpose and an active engagement, not to declined orders.
Start tracking your appraisers miles for free.
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