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2026 Mileage Rates: Optimize Your Deductions

The IRS has unveiled the inflation-adjusted 2026 optional standard mileage rates, pivotal for calculating deductible automobile operating expenses for business, medical, or charitable purposes. Understanding these updates can optimize your tax strategy and ensure compliance.

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Updated Mileage Rates for 2026: Effective January 1, 2026, the new rates are:

  • 72.5 cents per mile for business travel, up from 70 cents in 2025, which includes a 35-cent-per-mile depreciation allocation.

  • 20.5 cents per mile for medical or qualifying moving expenses, a slight decrease from the prior year.

  • 14 cents per mile for charitable service—unchanged for decades, requiring Congressional action to alter.

The business rate derives from a comprehensive study of fixed and variable automotive costs, while the medical and moving purpose rate focuses solely on variable costs. The charitable rate, unchanged for over 25 years, can only be modified through legislative means.

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Significant Considerations for Business Vehicle Use: Business owners may choose between actual expenses or the standard mileage rate. Given recent changes in bonus depreciation and fluctuating fuel prices, evaluating both methods can yield substantial tax savings in initial years of vehicle service. Note, converted methods forbid subsequent standard mileage rate use if depreciation has been claimed.

Common oversights in standard mileage include overlooking deductible costs like tolls, parking, and business-related property taxes.

Tax-Free Employer Reimbursements: Employers offering reimbursements based on documented business mileage can offer these tax-free, contingent upon proper substantiation by employees.

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Regulations for Employee Vehicle Expenses: Post-2017 regulatory changes from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act render employee business expenses non-deductible. However, certain exceptions apply for specific roles, like reservists or educators, who can still claim adjustments.

Self-Employed Vehicle Use Deductions: Self-employed individuals can benefit regardless of mileage or actual expense methods. Auto loan interest aligned with business use can also be deducted.

For heavy SUVs, exceeding 6,000 pounds, the tax landscape allows for significant deductions using Section 179 and bonus depreciation—though with constraints on weight and recapture stipulations for premature disposal.

For further inquiries on vehicle deduction methods or documentation requirements, please reach out to our office for tailored guidance.

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