Mileage Tracker

Standard Mileage Rate vs. Actual Expenses

You must choose one method per vehicle per year. If you use standard mileage in the first year a vehicle is placed in service, you can switch to actual expenses later. If you start with actual expenses, you cannot switch to standard mileage for that vehicle.

Required Mileage Log Fields

The IRS requires contemporaneous records. Each entry should include:

• Date of the trip
• Starting location and destination
• Business purpose of the trip
• Miles driven
• Odometer reading (start and end, at minimum annually)

Without Wilson

1. Create a spreadsheet with columns: Date, From, To, Purpose, Miles.
2. Log every business trip as it happens (the IRS does not accept reconstructed logs).
3. At year end, sum the Miles column.
4. Multiply total business miles by the current IRS rate (e.g., 1,000 miles x $0.70 = $700).
5. Alternatively, total all actual vehicle expenses and multiply by your business-use percentage (business miles / total miles driven).
6. Enter the deduction on Schedule C, Line 9.
7. Keep the mileage log and supporting receipts for at least 3 years from the filing date.

Important Notes

• The $0.70/mile rate is for 2025. The IRS adjusts this rate annually, sometimes mid-year. Always verify the current rate before filing.
• Commuting miles (home to regular office) are never deductible. Trips from a home office to a client site are deductible.
• If you use the standard mileage rate, you can still deduct parking fees and tolls separately on top of the mileage deduction.
• For vehicles used both personally and for business, only the business-use percentage is deductible.
• This is not tax advice. Consult a CPA or tax professional for filing decisions.