Mileage deduction for freelancers

If you drive for business — client meetings, supply runs, site visits — you can deduct those miles. The IRS publishes a standard mileage rate each year (business, medical, and charity rates differ). Multiply business miles by that rate; no receipt for every gallon of gas required.

Standard rate vs actual expenses

Actual expenses (gas, insurance, depreciation, repairs) allocated by business-use percentage can beat the standard rate for some vehicles, but record-keeping is heavier. You cannot switch methods freely year to year for the same car — the first year you use a vehicle for business matters.

What counts

Commuting from home to your regular workplace is not deductible. Trips between clients, to a co-working space you use irregularly, or to pick up supplies usually are. The IRS expects a contemporaneous log: date, miles, purpose.

Rate changes annually

The business rate is set in an IRS notice, not tied to your tax bracket. Our mileage calculator uses the rate from our parameter file for the tax year you select — check the year badge on your result.