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How to Track Mileage for Taxes (2026)

The IRS requires specific information for every business mile you deduct. Here is exactly what you need to log and how to do it without spending hours on paperwork.

What the IRS Requires

  • Date of the trip
  • Destination — city and state or business name
  • Purpose — what business activity the trip served
  • Miles driven — odometer reading or map app estimate

    • The Two Methods

    Standard Mileage Rate (easiest): Multiply your business miles by 67¢/mile (2026 rate). No receipts needed for gas — the rate covers it all.

    Actual Expense Method: Track every gallon of gas, oil change, tire rotation, insurance, registration, and repair — then calculate the business percentage. More work, sometimes better if you have a cheap car and high gas costs.

    The Best Free Method

    Use your phone's GPS to automatically log every drive. TheStride, Hurdlr, and Everlance all have free tiers that connect to tax software. The IRS accepts GPS logs — you don't need a paper logbook.

    What Counts as Business Mileage

    • Driving to meet a client
    • Delivering goods or services
    • Traveling between job sites
    • Going to a business meeting
    • Driving to buy business supplies

    Does NOT count: Commuting from home to your regular gig platform hub, driving to a coffee shop to "work," personal trips.

    Common Mileage Log Mistakes That Get Flagged

  • Missing purpose — "driving" is not enough, must be "client meeting at Acme Corp"
  • Rounded numbers — if you always log exactly 12.0 miles, that looks fabricated
  • No destination — just "store" is too vague
  • Inconsistent records — logging once a month instead of regularly
  • Missing trips — audit flag if you claim 20K miles but gas receipts only cover 8K

    • Real Example

    You drive for DoorDash 3 nights a week. Total weekly miles: 180. Business percentage: 100% (all while app is active). Annual deduction: 180 × 52 × $0.67 = $6,265. That's $6,265 less taxable income.

    🚗 Track Every Mile Automatically

    Use our free mileage tracker or connect to FreshBooks for automatic mileage logging.

    Free Mileage Tracker →