Mileage tax guides
Plain-language answers to the questions every self-employed driver asks at tax time. What is the rate, which method saves more, what does the IRS actually require in a log, and how do you claim the deduction without a paper trail.
Methods and rates
The 2026 IRS Mileage Rate Is 76 Cents (Raised Mid-Year). Here's How to Claim It.
The IRS raised the 2026 business mileage rate to 76 cents per mile on July 1 (72.5 cents Jan-Jun). Calculate your deduction and see what changed.
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Standard Mileage Rate vs Actual Expenses: Which Saves You More?
Standard mileage rate (76¢/mile from July 1, 2026) or actual expenses? Compare both methods, see which saves more for your situation, and use our free calculator.
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How to Track Mileage for Taxes in 2026
Track your business mileage the right way. What the IRS requires, 3 tracking methods compared, and how to automate it. Free template included.
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IRS Mileage Rate History (1997 to 2026)
Every IRS standard mileage rate from 1997 to 2026, plus the methodology the IRS uses to set the rate each year and what drives the changes.
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Mileage Deduction for Electric Vehicles (2026)
Electric vehicle drivers get the same IRS mileage deduction as gas-powered vehicles. The 2026 rate (72.5 cents through June, 76 cents from July) applies regardless of fuel type.
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Filing and rules
How to Claim Mileage on Your 2026 Taxes (Schedule C)
Step-by-step: where mileage goes on Schedule C, how to calculate the deduction at the 2026 rate (72.5 cents through June, 76 cents from July), and what self-employed filers need to file.
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What the IRS Requires in a Mileage Log (2026)
The four pieces of information the IRS requires for every business mile you deduct. Plus the contemporaneous rule that decides whether your log holds up in an audit.
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1099 Mileage Deduction (2026)
If you received a 1099-NEC or 1099-K, you are self-employed for tax purposes. And you can deduct every business mile at the 2026 IRS rate: 72.5 cents through June, 76 cents from July.
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Trip categories
Business Miles vs Commuting Miles (and Why It Matters)
Business miles are deductible. Commuting miles are not. Here's how the IRS draws the line, and the rules for home offices, temporary job sites, and second jobs.
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Deadhead Miles: What They Are and Why They Count
Deadhead miles are the unpaid drives between gigs that gig workers and trades miss. They are deductible. Here's how the IRS treats them.
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Other deduction types
Charitable Mileage Deduction (2026)
If you drive for a qualifying charity, the IRS lets you deduct 14 cents per mile. Here are the rules, what qualifies, and how to claim it.
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Medical Mileage Deduction (2026)
The 2026 medical mileage rate is 23.5 cents per mile from July 1 (20.5 cents January through June). Here's what qualifies, who can claim it, and the AGI threshold that limits most filers.
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Audit and recovery
How to Reconstruct a Mileage Log (When You Forgot to Track)
If you forgot to track mileage during the year, here's the IRS-defensible way to reconstruct a log from calendar entries, receipts, and platform data.
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Surviving a Mileage Audit: What to Do When the IRS Asks
If the IRS audits your mileage deduction, here's exactly what they will ask for, what holds up, and the common mistakes that lose deductions.
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