Track mileage automatically
Get started
December 15, 2023 - 2 min read

What Is Charitable Mileage?

If you contribute your time to charitable organizations, you might be able to claim a mileage tax deduction. The deduction is meant to alleviate the expenses associated with giving your free time to good causes as an individual or an organization.

What qualifies as charitable mileage

According to the IRS, any mileage incurred with your personal vehicle performing services for charitable organizations is eligible for a charity mileage deduction, so long as you were not already reimbursed by the organization.

If you travel by other means away from home in order to provide charitable services, the following rules apply:

  • Travel must be performed for an approved charitable organization
  • There should be no significant element of recreation, vacation or personal pleasure attached to your travel
Driversnote

Mileage tracking made easy

Trusted by millions of drivers

Automate your logbook Automate your logbook

Automatic mileage tracking and IRS-compliant reporting.

Get started for free Get started for free

What is the mileage rate for charitable contributions?

The mileage rate for charity-related driving is $0.14 cents per mile. This rate is set by statute and has been unchanged since 1998.

Instead of using the standard charity mileage rate, you can choose to deduct actual expenses for your miles in service of charitable organizations, specifically gas and oil costs. You can’t deduct other vehicle-related costs for your charity miles such as registration, insurance, tires, maintenance and depreciation.

No matter the deduction method you choose, you will be able to deduct your parking and toll fees.

What travel expenses you can deduct if you travel by other means than your personal vehicle

You can deduct expenses such as air, rail, bus and taxi fares, and lodging and meals costs if you are away for more than a day.

How to deduct charitable mileage

In order to deduct expenses related to charity service, you must keep sufficient and timely records to present to the IRS. These include keeping a logbook of mileage you’ve driven with your personal vehicle, and fuel and oil costs if you deduct actual vehicle expenses. Keep receipts of any other travel expenses you are to deduct. Learn more about charity, medical and moving deductions and rates in our article.

FAQ

Any driving you do to get to approved charitable organizations, their events or any service for them is classified as charitable mileage. You will be able to get a tax deduction for your mileage in service of charity organizations so long as you were not reimbursed by them already.
The 2022 charitable mileage rate was 14 cents per mile, unchanged from the previous year.
The standard IRS charitable mileage rate for 2023 was 14 cents per mile.

Tired of logging mileage by hand?

Effortless. IRS-compliant. Liberating.

Auto-track trips
Classify trips
IRS compliant reports
Automate your mileage logbook
Effortless and compliant mileage tracking
Get started for free Get started for free

Related posts

IRS Mileage Guide
IRS Mileage Guide

January 15, 2024 - 10 min read

Mileage reimbursement in the US — rates and rules for employees, self-employed and employers in the US.

IRS Mileage Rates 2024
IRS Mileage Rates 2024

January 2, 2024 - 2 min read

The standard mileage rate for business will be 67 cents per mile, effective Jan. 1st, 2024 - up 1.5 cents from the 2023 rate of 65.5 cents.

Section 179 Tax Write-offs for Business Vehicles
Section 179 Tax Write-offs for Business Vehicles

October 1, 2024 - 2 min read

Learn how the Section 179 tax write-off works when you buy a vehicle that is at least partially used for business purposes.