IRS Mileage Rate 2026: 76 Cents From July 1, 72.5 Cents Before

“The Internal Revenue Service today announced that the optional standard mileage rate for automobiles driven for business will increase by 3 cents in 2025, while the mileage rates for vehicles used for other purposes will remain unchanged from 2024.”

“Optional standard mileage rates are used to calculate the deductible costs of operating vehicles for business, charitable, and medical purposes. Additionally, the optional standard mileage rate may be used to calculate the deductible costs of operating vehicles for moving purposes for certain active-duty members of the Armed Forces, and now, under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, certain members of the intelligence community.”

“The standard mileage rate for 2026 is 20.5 cents per mile for use of an automobile: (1) for medical care described in § 213; or (2) as part of a move for which the expenses are deductible under § 217(g), as supplemented by § 217(k)(2).”

“There shall be allowed as a deduction the expenses paid during the taxable year, not compensated for by insurance or otherwise, for medical care of the taxpayer, his spouse, or a dependent (as defined in section 152, determined without regard to subsections (b)(1), (b)(2), and (d)(1)(B) thereof), to the extent that such expenses exceed 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income.”

“If you itemize your deductions for a taxable year on Schedule A (Form 1040), Itemized Deductions, you may be able to deduct the medical and dental expenses you paid for yourself, your spouse, and your dependents during the taxable year to the extent these expenses exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income for the year. The deduction applies only to expenses not compensated by insurance or otherwise regardless of whether you receive the reimbursement directly or payment is made on your behalf to the doctor, hospital, or other medical provider.”

“Currently, you can only deduct charitable contributions if you itemize deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040), Itemized Deductions (this may be limited). See Publication 526, Charitable Contributions. Beginning with tax year 2026, if you do not itemize, you may deduct up to $1,000 ($2,000 if filing jointly) of your cash contributions to certain qualified organizations.”

“Notwithstanding subsection (a), no miscellaneous itemized deduction shall be allowed for any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2017.”

“The standard mileage rate for transportation or travel expenses for 2026 is 72.5 cents per mile for all miles of business use (business standard mileage rate). See section 4 of Rev. Proc. 2019-46. However, § 70110 of the OBBBA made permanent the disallowance for all miscellaneous itemized deductions that are subject to the two-percent of adjusted gross income floor under § 67, including unreimbursed employee travel expenses. Thus, the business standard mileage rate provided in this notice cannot be used to claim an itemized deduction for unreimbursed employee travel expenses, except for certain educator expenses as described later. However, deductions for expenses that are deductible in determining adjusted gross income remain allowable. For example, members of a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States (Armed Forces), state or local government officials paid in whole or in part on a fee basis, and certain performing artists are entitled to deduct unreimbursed employee travel expenses as an adjustment to total income on line 12 of Schedule 1 of Form 1040 (2025), U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, not as an itemized deduction on Schedule A of Form 1040 (2025), and therefore may continue to use the business standard mileage rate.”

“Similarly, eligible educators are also entitled to deduct certain unreimbursed employee travel expenses as an adjustment to total income on line 11 of Schedule 1 of Form 1040 (2025) up to the dollar limit, but alternatively they may be entitled to an itemized deduction on Schedule A of Form 1040 for 2026.”

“The deductions allowed by section 162 which consist of expenses, determined at a rate not in excess of the rates for travel expenses (including per diem in lieu of subsistence) authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, paid or incurred by the taxpayer in connection with the performance of services by such taxpayer as a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States for any period during which such individual is more than 100 miles away from home in connection with such services.”

“The deductions allowed by section 162 which consist of expenses paid or incurred with respect to services performed by an official as an employee of a State or a political subdivision thereof in a position compensated in whole or in part on a fee basis.”

“Most employees cannot deduct unreimbursed car expenses, but there are exceptions for a member of the Armed Forces or military reservist, a qualified performing artist, a fee-basis state or local government official, or if you’re self-employed. If you fall within an exception and use your car only for business purposes, you may deduct its entire cost of ownership and operation (subject to limits discussed later). However, if you use the car for both business and personal purposes, you may deduct only the cost of its business use.”

“A self-employed individual may deduct an amount computed under section 4 of this revenue procedure in computing adjusted gross income under § 62(a)(1).”

“Section 70113(a) of the OBBBA made permanent the disallowance for the deduction for moving expenses, except to the extent § 217(g) applies, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, and § 70113(b) of the OBBBA added a new provision that included certain members of the intelligence community within the scope of § 217(g). Accordingly, members of the Armed Forces on active duty who move pursuant to a military order and incident to a permanent change of station to whom § 217(g) applies and members of the intelligence community who move after December 31, 2025, pursuant to a change of assignment which requires relocation, are permitted to deduct certain moving expenses. Thus, except for taxpayers to whom § 217(g) applies, including certain members of the intelligence community, the standard mileage rate provided in this notice is not applicable for the use of an automobile as part of a move.”

“Except in the case of an individual to whom subsection (g) applies, this section shall not apply to any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2017.”

“An employee or new appointee of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)) (other than a member of the Armed Forces of the United States) who moves pursuant to a change in assignment which requires relocation shall be treated for purposes of this section in the same manner as an individual to whom subsection (g) applies.”

“Except in the case of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States on active duty who moves pursuant to a military order and incident to a permanent change of station, or an employee or new appointee of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)) (other than a member of the Armed Forces of the United States) who moves pursuant to a change in assignment that requires relocation, subsection (a)(6) shall not apply to any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2017.”

“The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.”

“Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, taxpayers cannot claim a miscellaneous itemized deduction for unreimbursed employee travel expenses. And only taxpayers who are members of the military on active duty may claim a deduction for moving expenses incurred while relocating under orders to a permanent change of station.”

“Under the law, taxpayers cannot claim a miscellaneous itemized deduction for unreimbursed employee travel expenses, except for certain educator expenses. However, deductions for expenses that are deductible in determining adjusted gross income remain allowable, such as for certain members of a reserve component of the Armed Forces, certain state and local government officials, certain performing artists, and eligible educators. Alternatively, eligible educators may claim an itemized deduction for certain unreimbursed employee travel expenses. In addition, only taxpayers who are members of the military on active duty or certain members of the intelligence community may claim a deduction for moving expenses incurred while relocating under orders to a permanent change of station.”

“An employee is deemed to satisfy the adequate accounting requirements of § 1.274-5(f) and the requirement to substantiate by adequate records or other sufficient evidence for purposes of § 1.274-5(c) if the amount of transportation expenses is deemed substantiated under the rules provided in section 7.01 of this revenue procedure, and the employee actually substantiates to the payor the elements of time, place (or use), and business purpose of the transportation expenses under § 1.274-5T(b)(2) (travel away from home), § 1.274-5T(b)(6) (listed property, which includes passenger automobiles and any other property used as a means of transportation), and § 1.274-5(c) (rules of substantiation).”

“An employee is not required to include in gross income the portion of a mileage allowance received from a payor that is less than or equal to the amount deemed substantiated under section 7.01 of this revenue procedure, provided the employee substantiates under section 7.02 of this revenue procedure. See § 1.274-5T(f)(2)(i). Assuming that the remaining requirements for an accountable plan provided in § 1.62-2 are satisfied, that portion of the allowance is treated as paid under an accountable plan, is not reported as wages or other compensation on the employee's Form W-2, and is exempt from withholding and payment of employment taxes.”

“An employee is required to include in gross income the portion of a mileage allowance received from a payor that exceeds the amount deemed substantiated under section 7.01 of this revenue procedure. See § 1.274-5T(f)(2)(ii). In addition, the excess portion of the allowance is treated as paid under a nonaccountable plan, is reported as wages or other compensation on the employee's Form W-2, and is subject to withholding and payment of employment taxes.”

“If you use your privately-owned automobile, motorcycle, or plane for official government travel, your agency reimburses you according to eCFR Chapter 301 Subpart D—Privately Owned Vehicle.”

“Employees will be reimbursed an applicable mileage rate based on the type of POV actually used, including privately owned airplane, automobile, or motorcycle. These rates will be published in an FTR bulletin and displayed on the General Services Administration website at https://www.gsa.gov/mileage.”

“Check with your agency’s travel office before using a privately owned vehicle for official travel. Your reimbursement may depend on whether your agency authorized or approved your POV for the trip.”