IRS Mileage Reimbursement Calculator

About the IRS Mileage Reimbursement Calculator

The IRS allows a standard mileage deduction for business, medical, moving, and charitable driving. For 2026, the business rate is $0.725 per mile, the medical and qualified moving rate is $0.205 per mile, and the charity rate remains $0.14 per mile. These rates can change by year, and this calculator lets you select the year built into the page.

This calculator computes your total mileage reimbursement or deduction based on the miles you've driven in each category. Enter your business, medical or moving, and charity miles to see the total deductible amount for the selected year.

The standard mileage deduction is a useful worksheet for self-employed workers, gig drivers, and anyone comparing the standard-rate method against actual vehicle expenses. It is meant to support record-keeping and planning, not to replace tax advice.

When This Page Helps

The IRS mileage deduction can materially change a tax projection for self-employed workers and business drivers. A rideshare driver with 30,000 business miles can create a large deduction, and this calculator helps compare the categories the IRS allows under the selected-year rates.

How to Use the Inputs

1. Enter your total business miles driven during the tax year.
2. Add any qualifying medical or moving miles.
3. Enter miles driven for charitable purposes.
4. Review the IRS mileage rates used for each category.
5. See your total deductible mileage reimbursement amount.
6. Use this figure on your tax return (Schedule C for self-employed, Schedule A for others).

Example Calculation

Tips & Best Practices

• Track every business mile with a mileage tracking app like MileIQ, Stride, or Everlance.
• You can choose between the standard mileage rate and actual expenses — calculate both and use whichever is higher.
• If you use the standard rate, you must use it in the first year the vehicle is used for business.
• Commuting miles (home to regular workplace) are NOT deductible as business miles.
• Log your odometer reading on January 1st and December 31st each year for accurate total mileage.
• Keep a contemporaneous mileage log — estimates are not accepted in an audit.

Understanding IRS Mileage Deductions

The IRS standard mileage deduction simplifies vehicle expense tracking for business use. Instead of tracking every gas receipt, oil change, and tire purchase, you multiply your business miles by the standard rate to determine your deduction.

Who Benefits Most

Self-employed workers, rideshare and delivery drivers, real estate agents, sales representatives, and anyone who drives extensively for business benefit the most. A full-time rideshare driver with 30,000 annual business miles can deduct over $20,000.

Record-Keeping Requirements

The IRS requires a contemporaneous log of business miles. This means recording trips as they happen, not estimating at year-end. Apps like MileIQ automatically track trips using GPS and make annual reporting simple.

Standard Rate vs. Actual Expenses

You can choose the standard mileage rate or actual expense method each year (with limitations). The standard rate includes depreciation, fuel, maintenance, insurance, and registration. Calculate both methods to see which provides the larger deduction for your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the IRS standard mileage rate for 2026?

  For 2026, the IRS standard mileage rates are $0.725/mile for business use, $0.205/mile for medical purposes, $0.205/mile for qualified moving purposes for eligible active-duty military members and certain intelligence-community members, and $0.14/mile for charitable driving.

• Who can claim the IRS mileage deduction?

  Self-employed individuals, independent contractors, gig workers, and business owners can generally deduct business mileage on Schedule C. Under current federal rules, most employees cannot claim an unreimbursed employee-travel deduction as a miscellaneous itemized deduction, though narrow categories such as certain educators, reservists, performing artists, and some state or local officials can have special treatment.

• What miles count as business miles?

  Business miles include driving from one work location to another, client meetings, errands for work, business travel, and for self-employed/gig workers, all miles driven while working (rideshare trips, deliveries, etc.). Regular commuting does not count.

• Standard mileage rate vs actual expenses — which is better?

  It depends on your vehicle's actual costs. If you drive an expensive vehicle with high insurance, maintenance, and depreciation, actual expenses may yield a larger deduction. For most economy vehicles, the standard rate is simpler and often comparable.

• Do I need to keep receipts for the standard mileage deduction?

  You don't need fuel receipts when using the standard rate, but you must maintain a contemporaneous mileage log showing the date, destination, business purpose, and miles for each trip. Digital mileage tracking apps satisfy this requirement.

• Can I deduct mileage to volunteer work?

  Yes. Miles driven for charitable organizations are deductible at $0.14/mile. That rate is set by statute rather than by the annual IRS cost study, so it does not move with the business and medical rates. You also need documentation of the charitable purpose.