Mileage Deduction Calculator
Turn business trips and miles each into total miles and deduction at the IRS rate.
What it does
Mileage deductions turn odometer readings into tax lines at a flat cents per mile rate. Twelve 30 mile business trips total 360 miles, worth $273.60 at the 76 cent business rate.
The tool above takes trip count, miles each, and rate per mile. It returns total miles, deduction dollars, and per trip value, so logs and returns share one figure.
This math fits standard mileage with one rate. It does not fit actual expense methods with gas and depreciation, charity or medical rates, or commuting miles that never qualify.
Tax guidance frames the same parts: yearly standard rates per use type with business, charity, and medical bands published separately. Federal travel rules reimburse official miles on parallel schedules.
Log each trip with date and purpose. The rate multiplies fine, but only documented business miles survive questions.
How to use
- Count business trips in the period.
- Enter average miles each trip.
- Enter the IRS rate for the year and use type.
- Read total miles first for the log line.
- Read deduction for the return line.
- Read per trip to price future runs.
Formula
- trips
- Counted business trips, no commuting.
- miles
- Average miles driven per trip.
- rate
- IRS dollars per mile for the use type.
One rate per run since business, charity, and medical bands differ. Rates change yearly, sometimes mid year, so confirm before filing.
Worked example
Example: 12 trips of 30 miles at $0.76
Trips 12, miles each 30, rate 0.76 business second half 2026.
- Miles: 12 x 30 = 360 mi.
- Deduction: 360 x 0.76 = $273.60.
- Per trip: 30 x 0.76 = $22.80.
- Tool shows 360 mi, deduction $273.60, per trip $22.80.
- Log check: 12 dated lines averaging 30 miles close the loop.
Reference table
| Use | Rate | Deduction |
|---|---|---|
| Business H2 | $0.76 | $273.60 |
| Medical | $0.235 | $84.60 |
| Charity | $0.14 | $50.40 |
Limits
- Standard mileage only. Actual expense fleets differ.
- One rate per run. Mixed uses need split runs.
- Commuting miles never qualify as business.
- Logs with dates beat odometer guesses at review.
Common mistakes
- Using last year rate after mid year changes.
- Counting commuting miles as business trips.
- Mixing charity miles into the business rate.
- Averaging wildly different trip lengths blindly.
- Skipping the written log behind the total.
Try it yourself
Quick checks. Answers sit tucked under each question.
5 trips of 10 miles at $0.14 charity?
50 mi, deduction $7.00, per trip $1.40.
20 trips of 15 miles at $0.76?
300 mi, deduction $228.00, per trip $11.40.
8 trips of 45 miles at $0.235 medical?
360 mi, deduction $84.60, per trip $10.58.
Questions
How is mileage deduction figured?
Business miles times the IRS rate. 360 miles at $0.76 is $273.60.
What is the 2026 business rate?
72.5 cents January to June and 76 cents July to December. Confirm yearly.
Do charity miles use the same rate?
No. Charity runs 14 cents with its own rules. Split uses by rate.
Can I deduct commuting?
No. Home to regular workplace miles do not qualify as business.
Standard or actual expenses?
Standard multiplies miles by rate. Actual tracks gas and depreciation instead.
What records do I need?
Date, purpose, and miles per trip. Totals alone rarely satisfy review.