Official 2026 IRS Rates

How Much Money Are You Leaving on the Road?

If you drive for DoorDash, Uber, real estate, or your own 1099 business, the IRS gives you a major tax break for every mile. Move the slider below to see your real cash savings.

Your Driving Stats
Average Miles Driven per Week 250 mi / wk
Tax Year & Official IRS Rate
Your Filing Status / Tax Bracket
Estimated Annual Tolls & Parking ($) $400
What This Means in Cash
Total Schedule C Tax Deduction
$10,052
Annual Business Miles
13,000 mi
Estimated Cash Kept in Your Pocket
$2,744
Standard Mileage Value
$9,652
Tolls & Parking Write-Off
$400
Claim $10,052 Tax Audit (Free) →
Direct Install on iPhone Direct Install on Android

100% Free Starter Plan • Zero GPS Battery Drain • Stored On Your Device

The Real Reason Drivers Lose Thousands at Tax Time

If you drive 250 miles a week, you're looking at nearly $10,000 in legal tax write-offs. That translates to roughly $2,700 in cold hard cash you won't have to hand over to the IRS.

The catch? The IRS doesn't accept guesstimates or a napkin calculation. If you get audited, you need a contemporaneous log with dates, odometer readings, and destinations. Most drivers either forget to log trips, or they use battery-draining cloud apps that charge $100/year and sell their private locations to brokers.

VaultMileage was built to fix this: it logs your drives in seconds, connects to your car's Bluetooth automatically, keeps 100% of your data private on your own device, and generates a clean 1-page PDF for your accountant.

Straight Answers to Common Tax Questions

What is the 2026 IRS standard mileage rate?

For 2026, the rate is 72.5 cents per mile from January 1 to June 30, and adjusts to 76.0 cents per mile from July 1 to December 31. VaultMileage handles the date math automatically so you always get the maximum legal rate.

Should I deduct actual gas and repairs, or use the standard mileage rate?

For 95% of gig workers and self-employed drivers, the standard mileage rate yields a much larger write-off with 90% less paperwork. Instead of saving every $40 gas receipt, you simply multiply your miles by the IRS rate.

Can I write off tolls and parking on top of my mileage?

Yes. Business-related highway tolls and parking fees are 100% deductible in cash directly in addition to your standard mileage deduction. VaultMileage tracks both in one place.

What happens if I get audited by the IRS?

IRS Publication 463 requires proof of four items: date of trip, starting and ending odometer readings, total miles, and business purpose. VaultMileage packages all four into a CPA-ready PDF that meets IRS substantiation standards.