How to track mileage for taxes: An IRS-compliant guide

What an IRS mileage log should include

Keep a timely, consistent record that connects every deductible trip to a clear business activity.

• The date of every business trip
• Your starting point and destination
• The business purpose of the trip
• The number of business miles driven
• Your vehicle's total annual mileage

Record each trip when it happens

Log trips during or soon after travel. Contemporaneous records are more reliable than estimates created months later. Save supporting calendar entries, client notes, receipts, or job records when they clarify the business purpose.

Separate business and personal mileage

Commuting between home and a regular workplace is generally personal. Travel between business locations, client visits, supply runs, and other qualifying business trips may be deductible. Classify every trip instead of treating all vehicle use as business mileage.

Choose a vehicle deduction method

The standard mileage method applies the IRS rate for the relevant tax year. The actual-expense method uses the business share of eligible vehicle costs. Eligibility and switching rules can vary, so review current IRS guidance or ask a qualified tax professional.

Make your records tax-ready

Review unclassified trips regularly, correct missing purposes, and export a dated mileage report at year-end. Keep the log and supporting records with your tax documentation for the applicable retention period.