Mileage Deduction Calculator (2026 IRS Rates)
Self-employed and driving for work? The IRS lets you deduct business miles at a standard rate instead of tracking every gas and repair receipt. For 2026 the business rate is 72.5 cents per mile for Jan to Jun and 76 cents per mile for Jul to Dec, because the IRS changed the rate during the year. Enter your miles for each period to see the deduction and a rough estimate of the tax it saves.
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Free tools from TapForge Studios that work with the numbers on this page.
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2026 IRS standard mileage rates
- Business: 72.5 cents per mile for Jan to Jun; 76 cents per mile for Jul to Dec
- Medical and certain moving: 20.5 cents for Jan to Jun; 23.5 cents for Jul to Dec
- Charity: 14 cents per mile all year (set by law)
The rate depends on when the miles were driven, so the calculator asks for your miles in each period.
The rate covers gas, wear and tear, depreciation and similar vehicle costs, so you cannot also deduct those separately. You still need a contemporaneous log: date, destination, business purpose and miles for each trip. Commuting from home to your regular workplace is never deductible. Medical miles are only deductible if your total medical expenses exceed 7.5% of your income, and charity miles require itemizing.
The tax savings estimate multiplies the business deduction by your bracket, and by roughly 15.3% x 92.35% more for self-employed workers because the deduction lowers net profit.
Worked example
6,000 business miles in Jan to Jun x $0.725 + 6,000 business miles in Jul to Dec x $0.760 = $8,910 of deduction. A self-employed driver in the 22% bracket saves about $1,960 of income tax plus about $1,259 of self-employment tax.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use the standard rate or actual expenses?
The standard rate is simpler and often better for fuel-efficient or older vehicles. Actual expenses can win for expensive vehicles with high depreciation. In many cases you must choose the standard rate in the first year you use a car for business to keep that option open later.
What records do I need?
A log showing the date, starting and ending points, purpose and miles of each business trip, or an app that records it automatically. The IRS looks for records made at or near the time of the trip.
Can employees deduct mileage?
For 2026, most employees cannot deduct unreimbursed business mileage on their federal return. Self-employed workers, and certain categories such as some reservists and performing artists, can.
Related calculators
This calculator gives an estimate for planning and is not tax, legal or engineering advice. Tax figures use 2026 federal and state rules as published by October 2026 and may differ from your actual withholding or tax bill.