2026 Mileage Rates: IRS Updates You Need to Know

The IRS has once again updated its mileage rates, offering guidelines for calculating deductible vehicle operating costs. These adjustments will take effect on January 1, 2026, influencing deductions for business, charitable, medical, and moving purposes.

The new standard mileage rates are defined as follows:

  • 72.5 cents per mile for business purposes, marking a modest increase from 2025’s 70 cents. This includes a 35-cent depreciation component.

  • 20.5 cents per mile for medical travel and qualifying moving expenses, decreased from 21 cents in 2025.

  • A constant 14 cents per mile is set for charitable services, unchanged for over 25 years.

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Adjustments for the business mileage rate are determined through an annual analysis of the fixed and variable expenses associated with car operation. Rates specific to medical and moving purposes reflect only the variable expenses.

Notably, the 14 cents per mile charitable rate is fixed by statute and requires Congressional intervention for any amendments.

Relocation Considerations: Under the recent legislative changes, mileage expenses tied to moving are permanently disallowed by the OBBBA, with exceptions for active Armed Forces members adhering to military orders and, starting in 2026, eligible intelligence community members.

For those utilizing personal vehicles for charitable work, direct out-of-pocket costs such as fuel and oil can be deducted if itemizing—excluding routine maintenance and insurance.

Business Vehicle Use: Taxpayers can opt between actual vehicle cost calculation and the standard mileage method. The choice of actual costs can be advantageous initially, owing to variations in fuel pricing and depreciation allowances. While bonus depreciation was 100% until 2022, it briefly dipped before being reinstated in late 2025.

Transitioning from actual to standard mileage methods is restricted if depreciation methods like Sec. 179 or MACRS have been applied previously. Plus, standard mileage can't be claimed for vehicles for hire or fleets beyond four vehicles.

Self-employed individuals and small business owners are encouraged to remember deductibles such as parking fees, tolls, and relevant taxes beyond the standard rate.

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Employer and Employee Considerations: Employers providing tax-free mileage reimbursements must ensure substantiated business travel expenses. However, post-2017 tax reforms eliminated the itemized deduction for unreimbursed employee auto expenses, barring specific professions like reservists and educators.

Self-employed individuals benefit from deductions on auto loan interest relative to business use, leveraging either calculation method. For heavy SUVs exceeding 6,000 pounds but under 14,000, depreciation avenues like Section 179 offer an initial deduction of up to $32,000 in 2026, followed by bonus depreciation.

Taxpayers should heed potential recapture scenarios if luxury vehicles are sold within five years of purchase.

For targeted advice on optimizing vehicle deductions or understanding record-keeping requirements, you’re invited to consult with this office.

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