The current IRS mileage rate

The IRS sets a mileage rate each year. The rate is used to calculate your mileage deductions or reimbursement for accrued business mileage with your personal vehicle. The current IRS mileage rate is used as of January 1st, 2022 and is as follows:

• 58.5 cents per mile driven for business use, up 2.5 cents from the rate for 2021,
• 18 cents per mile driven for medical, or moving purposes for qualified active-duty members of the Armed Forces, up 2 cents from the rate for 2021 and
• 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations; the rate is set by statute and remains unchanged from 2021.

When to use the current mileage reimbursement rate

Usually, when people talk about the mileage rate, they mean the business rate–for example when you drive your personal vehicle for business purposes and are reimbursed the costs. Depending on whether you’re an employee or self-employed the rate might even be different.

The IRS sets the standard mileage rate each year, and it represents the ceiling for tax-deductible mileage.

For employees

Businesses often choose to reimburse employees by the standard mileage rate method, as it is the simplest in terms of administration work. If this is the case for you, then you use the current mileage rate to calculate the reimbursement you should receive from your employer on a monthly basis.

Keep in mind that it's up to your employer to set the rate and the rules for reimbursement, but the IRS's standard mileage rate is the limit for what is tax-deductible. If you're paid more per mile than the current IRS mileage rate, anything above it is considered taxable income.

If you want to learn more about other employee reimbursement methods, take a look at our mileage reimbursement for employees guide.

For self-employed

As a self-employed individual, you can claim mileage deductions on your annual tax return if you use your personal vehicle for business purposes. You must use the IRS mileage rate that corresponds to the year you are claiming mileage. E.g. if you are claiming mileage in 2022 for the previous year, you should use the 2021 standard IRS mileage rates. On the next tax return in 2023, you claim mileage using the current mileage rate for 2022.

Vehicles you can use the current mileage reimbursement rate for

You can use the IRS standard mileage rate if the vehicle you drive for business purposes is a car, van, panel truck or pickup.

Is there an alternative to using the current IRS mileage rate?

As a self-employed or a business owner, you have the option of calculating the actual costs of owning and operating your vehicle for business – this is called the actual expenses method. Learn more about the actual expenses method in our self-employed mileage guide.

The current IRS mileage rates for charity, moving and medical 

• 18 cents per mile driven for medical, or moving purposes for qualified active-duty members of the Armed Forces
• 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations; the rate is set by statute and remains unchanged from 2021.

Read more about charity and medical mileage rates and rules. 

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