If you reimburse employees for driving, deduct business mileage, or track vehicle use in any way, the IRS mileage rate probably pops up on your radar every year. And every year, it changes. Business owners and HR professionals are already juggling payroll deadlines, compliance rules, and rising costs—keeping up with mileage rate adjustments can feel like just one more thing to remember.
The problem is, mileage adds up quickly. Fuel prices fluctuate. Vehicle maintenance isn’t getting cheaper. And if mileage isn’t handled correctly, it can create tax issues for both employers and employees.
In this article, we’ll break down the new IRS standard mileage rate, how it compares to prior years, what’s included (and excluded), who can use it, and how it impacts taxes. By the end, you should feel confident using the current IRS mileage rate correctly and understanding how it fits into your business or personal tax picture.
The IRS mileage rate is designed to simplify the process of accounting for vehicle-related expenses. Instead of keeping receipts for every gallon of gas, oil change, or maintenance bill, you can calculate a per-mile deduction or reimbursement based on the standard mileage rate. It’s an efficient way to account for costs incurred when driving for business, medical, moving, or charitable purposes.
For many businesses, this approach is easier to manage and more predictable than tracking actual vehicle expenses. It also creates a consistent, IRS-approved benchmark for reimbursements and deductions.
For 2026, the Internal Revenue Service adjusted the standard mileage rates to reflect updated cost data and inflation.
Beginning January 1, 2026, the standard mileage rates are:
Business use: 72.5 cents per mile, an increase of 2.5 cents from 2025
Medical purposes: 20.5 cents per mile, a decrease of half a cent from 2025
Moving purposes: 20.5 cents per mile for certain active-duty members of the Armed Forces and qualifying members of the intelligence community
Charitable organizations: 14 cents per mile, unchanged and set by statute
These rates apply to gasoline, diesel, hybrid, and fully electric vehicles.
The increase in the business mileage rate reflects rising fixed and variable vehicle costs, such as depreciation, insurance, fuel, and maintenance. Medical and moving rates, on the other hand, are based only on variable costs, which is why those rates can move differently from business mileage.
It’s also important to note that using the standard mileage rate is optional. Taxpayers can choose to calculate actual vehicle expenses instead, but once you select a method, there are rules around when and how you can switch.
To put the 2026 changes into perspective, here’s how the mileage rates looked in 2025:
Business use: 70 cents per mile
Medical purposes: 21 cents per mile
Moving purposes: 21 cents per mile (for qualified active-duty Armed Forces members)
Charitable organizations: 14 cents per mile
The business mileage rate increased by 3 cents from 2024 to 2025, while the medical, moving, and charitable rates remained unchanged. Comparing year-over-year rates helps employers and self-employed individuals adjust reimbursement policies and budget expectations.
The IRS standard mileage rate is designed to simplify the process of accounting for vehicle expenses for business, medical, moving, or charitable purposes. Here’s what it encompasses:
While the standard mileage rate is comprehensive, there are expenses it does not cover:
The standard mileage rate can be used by:
For business owners and HR professionals, understanding the tax implications of these changes is important.
The IRS standard mileage rate depends on how the vehicle is used. For 2026, the rates are:
72.5 cents per mile for business use
20.5 cents per mile for medical purposes
20.5 cents per mile for moving purposes (limited to qualifying active-duty military members and certain members of the intelligence community)
14 cents per mile for charitable use
These rates are set by the Internal Revenue Service and apply to gasoline, diesel, hybrid, and electric vehicles. The business mileage rate is adjusted annually based on a study of vehicle operating costs, which is why it tends to change more often than the charitable rate.
Yes, employers can reimburse employees for business mileage without the reimbursement being taxed—as long as the reimbursement does not exceed the IRS standard mileage rate.
If an employer reimburses mileage at or below the standard rate, the reimbursement is generally considered non-taxable income. However, if an employer pays more than the IRS rate, the excess amount must typically be treated as taxable wages and included on the employee’s W-2.
This is why many employers align their reimbursement policies closely with the IRS mileage rate. It simplifies payroll processing and avoids unexpected tax consequences for employees.
In most cases, no. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, employees can no longer deduct unreimbursed business mileage on their federal tax return.
There are a few limited exceptions, including:
Certain members of the Armed Forces reserves
Fee-based state or local government officials
Certain performing artists
Eligible educators (under specific rules)
For everyone else, unreimbursed mileage is not deductible, which makes employer reimbursement policies especially important for employees who drive regularly for work.
That depends on your situation. The standard mileage rate is often simpler because it eliminates the need to track individual vehicle expenses like fuel, repairs, and insurance. You only need accurate mileage records.
However, some taxpayers may benefit more from using actual expenses, especially if vehicle operating costs are high. One important rule to keep in mind:
If you own a vehicle and want to use the standard mileage rate, you must choose it in the first year the vehicle is available for business use.
For leased vehicles, once you choose the standard mileage rate, you must use it for the entire lease period, including renewals.
Because the choice can impact deductions over multiple years, many business owners choose the standard mileage rate for consistency and simplicity.
The IRS standard mileage rate reflects the ongoing reality that operating a vehicle isn’t getting cheaper—especially for businesses that rely on employee travel. Understanding the current mileage rate, what it includes, and how it affects taxes can help you stay compliant and avoid surprises at tax time.
If mileage reimbursement or deduction rules feel unclear, that’s normal. They touch payroll, taxes, and policy decisions all at once. Taking the time to review your mileage practices now can save time and headaches later—and make sure you’re using the IRS mileage rate the right way moving forward.
Written December 2025
Last Updated: January 2026
Written by Jon Portanova