The IRS standard mileage deduction lets you write off a fixed amount per mile driven for business, medical, or charitable purposes instead of tracking actual vehicle expenses. It is the simplest way for self-employed workers, freelancers, and employees to claim vehicle-related tax savings. Enter your annual miles below to see your total deduction and estimated tax savings instantly.
Enter Your Annual Miles
Rates may be updated when the IRS publishes official figures
Client visits, errands, job sites — not commuting
Driving to medical appointments or qualifying moves
Driving for volunteer work or charitable organizations
Deduction Breakdown
Estimated Tax Savings by Bracket
Tax savings = total deduction x marginal tax rate. Self-employed individuals may save additional self-employment tax (15.3%) on the business mileage deduction.
Keep a Mileage Log
The IRS requires contemporaneous records of every deductible trip. Record the date, destination, business purpose, and miles driven. A mileage tracking app or simple spreadsheet works. Without adequate records, the IRS can disallow your entire mileage deduction during an audit.
Estimate only. This calculator uses IRS standard mileage rates. Actual rates are published annually by the IRS and may differ. The standard mileage rate cannot be used if you have claimed depreciation using MACRS, claimed a Section 179 deduction on the vehicle, or use five or more vehicles simultaneously. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.
IRS Standard Mileage Rates
| Purpose | 2026 Rate | 2025 Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Business | $0.70 | $0.70 |
| Medical / Moving | $0.21 | $0.21 |
| Charity | $0.14 | $0.14 |
The charity rate is set by statute (26 USC 170(i)) and rarely changes. Business and medical rates are updated annually based on a study of fixed and variable vehicle operating costs.
How to Use This Mileage Deduction Calculator
If you drive your personal vehicle for business, medical appointments, or charitable work, the IRS lets you deduct a fixed amount per mile instead of tracking every receipt for gas, insurance, and maintenance. This mileage deduction calculator uses the current IRS standard mileage rates to estimate your total write-off and the federal tax savings it produces at common marginal tax brackets.
Step 1: Select Your Tax Year
Choose the tax year you are calculating for. The IRS publishes new mileage rates each year, typically in late December for the following year. The calculator defaults to the current tax year. If you are filing a return for the prior year, switch to that year so the correct rates apply.
Step 2: Enter Your Business Miles
Enter the total miles you drove for business purposes during the year. Business mileage includes driving between your office and client locations, traveling to meetings or conferences, visiting job sites, making business-related bank or post office trips, and any other driving with a clear business purpose. Commuting from home to a regular office does not count. If you work from a home office, trips from home to a client or temporary work location do qualify.
Step 3: Enter Medical and Charity Miles
Add any miles driven for medical care, such as trips to doctor appointments, hospitals, or pharmacies. Also include miles driven in service of a qualified charitable organization, such as volunteering at a food bank or delivering meals. Medical mileage is only deductible if you itemize deductions and your total medical expenses exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. Charity mileage is deductible when you itemize and the driving directly serves a tax-exempt organization.
Understanding Your Results
The calculator multiplies each category of miles by the applicable IRS rate and shows you the deduction for each type of driving plus the combined total. It also estimates your federal tax savings at the 22%, 24%, and 32% marginal brackets. Self-employed individuals can claim business mileage on Schedule C, which reduces both income tax and self-employment tax. W-2 employees generally cannot deduct unreimbursed mileage on federal returns since the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act suspended that deduction through 2025.
Standard Mileage Rate vs. Actual Expenses
You can choose between the standard mileage rate and the actual expense method for each vehicle you own, but you must decide in the first year the vehicle is available for business use. The standard rate is simpler and often better for fuel-efficient or older vehicles. The actual expense method may yield a larger deduction for expensive vehicles with high maintenance costs. Keep records for both methods during the first year so you can compare. Regardless of which method you choose, always keep a detailed mileage log with the date, destination, purpose, and miles for every trip.
FAQ
What is the IRS standard mileage rate for 2026?
For 2026, the IRS standard mileage rate is 70 cents per mile for business driving, 21 cents per mile for medical or moving purposes, and 14 cents per mile for charitable driving. The business and medical rates are adjusted annually based on driving costs, while the charity rate is set by statute and rarely changes.
Is this mileage deduction calculator free to use?
Yes, this mileage deduction calculator is completely free with no signup, account, or payment required. You can use it as many times as you need to estimate your deduction for any combination of business, medical, and charity miles.
Is my data private when using this tool?
Absolutely. All calculations run entirely in your browser using JavaScript. No mileage figures, income data, or personal information is ever sent to any server or stored anywhere. Your financial information stays completely private on your device.
Can I use the standard mileage rate and actual expenses?
No, you must choose one method or the other for each vehicle. If you use the standard mileage rate, you cannot also deduct actual vehicle expenses like gas, insurance, and depreciation for that same vehicle. However, you can still deduct parking fees and tolls on top of the standard mileage rate.
Do I need to keep a mileage log for tax deductions?
Yes, the IRS requires contemporaneous records of your business mileage. Your log should include the date, destination, business purpose, and miles driven for each trip. You can use a paper log, spreadsheet, or mileage tracking app. Without adequate records, the IRS can disallow your entire mileage deduction during an audit.
What qualifies as business mileage?
Business mileage includes driving between your office and a client site, traveling to meetings, visiting job sites, running business errands, and driving to the bank or post office for business purposes. Commuting from home to your regular workplace does not count as business mileage, but driving from your home office to a client does.
How does the mileage deduction reduce my taxes?
The mileage deduction reduces your taxable income, not your tax bill directly. For example, if you drive 10,000 business miles at 70 cents per mile, you get a $7,000 deduction. If you are in the 22% tax bracket, that saves you $1,540 in federal income tax. Self-employed individuals also save on self-employment tax.