Mileage Deduction Calculator
This calculator multiplies your 2026 miles by the IRS standard mileage rate for that purpose and half of the year, then adds the two halves. It gives an estimate for record-keeping and planning, not tax advice.
How to use it
The standard mileage rate method estimates the cost of driving as a flat amount per mile. For 2026, the business rate changed partway through the year, so this calculator splits your miles into two date ranges and applies the right rate to each.
1. Choose the purpose
Pick what the miles were for: Self-employed and business, Charity, Medical or Moving (military only). Each purpose has its own rate, shown next to the miles boxes. Rules about which drives count, and who can claim each purpose, are set by the IRS; this page doesn't decide that for you.
2. Enter your miles for each half of 2026
- Miles, Jan 1 – Jun 30, 2026: miles for that purpose driven in the first half of the year.
- Miles, Jul 1 – Dec 31, 2026: miles driven in the second half.
If you only drove in one half, leave the other at 0. A mileage log with dates makes this split easy, because each trip falls clearly in one range.
3. Read the estimate
- Jan–Jun estimate: first-half miles × the first-half rate.
- Jul–Dec estimate: second-half miles × the second-half rate.
- Total miles: both halves added together.
- Deduction estimate: the two estimates added together.
Each half is rounded to the cent before they're added.
The 2026 business rates
For self-employed and business driving in 2026, the IRS standard mileage rate is 72.5 cents a mile for January 1 to June 30 and 76 cents a mile for July 1 to December 31. The rates for the other purposes are listed under the calculator. All of them come from the IRS standard mileage rates page, with the date that page was last reviewed and the date we checked it. This page covers 2026 only.
What it leaves out
The estimate is miles × rate and nothing else. It doesn't include parking, tolls or other costs, and it doesn't compare the standard mileage rate with the actual-expense method. It also can't tell whether a particular drive qualifies. For example, commuting between home and a regular workplace generally isn't treated as business mileage. Whether you can use the standard rate, and which miles count, depends on your situation, so check the IRS guidance or ask a tax professional.
Keeping records
The calculator only multiplies the totals you type. It doesn't keep a log and doesn't save anything. A dated log of each trip, with where you went, why and how far, makes the two halves easy to split and gives you something to check the totals against. The IRS has its own record-keeping rules for mileage, covered in its guidance.
Worked example
These are the numbers loaded by Try an example:
- Purpose: Self-employed and business
- Miles, Jan 1 – Jun 30, 2026: 1,200
- Miles, Jul 1 – Dec 31, 2026: 1,500
Results:
- Jan–Jun estimate: 1,200 × $0.725 = $870.00
- Jul–Dec estimate: 1,500 × $0.76 = $1,140.00
- Total miles: 2,700
- Deduction estimate: $2,010.00
Using a single rate for the whole year would give a different answer. That's why the two halves are kept apart.
FAQ
Why are there two boxes for 2026 miles?
The 2026 business rate changed on July 1, from 72.5 cents to 76 cents a mile. Each trip uses the rate for the date it was driven.
Does this include gas, parking or tolls?
No. The estimate is miles × the standard rate only. Nothing else is added, including parking, tolls and fuel.
Which miles count as business miles?
That depends on IRS rules and your situation. The calculator doesn't check. Commuting to a regular workplace generally doesn't count.