Driving your own car for work? Here's what those miles are worth at the 2026 IRS rate — and what your employer is and isn't required to do.
Federal law does not require most private employers to reimburse mileage at all. What the IRS rate does is set the ceiling for tax-free reimbursement: pay at or below 72.5¢ per mile under an accountable plan and the money is not taxable income to the employee. Anything above the rate is generally treated as taxable wages.
A few states — California among them — do require employers to reimburse necessary business expenses, which can include vehicle use. Check your state's rules if you are unsure.
Miss the substantiation and the reimbursement can become taxable, which is why a clean mileage record matters to employees as much as to the self-employed.
| Purpose | Rate |
|---|---|
| Business | 72.5¢ / mile |
| Medical or moving (qualifying members of the Armed Forces) | 20.5¢ / mile |
| Charitable service | 14¢ / mile (set by statute) |
Since the 2018 tax year, most employees cannot deduct unreimbursed job expenses on a federal return. If your employer does not reimburse you, that mileage is generally not deductible federally — though some states still allow it. Getting reimbursed properly is usually worth more than any deduction.
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72.5 cents per mile for business use. It is the maximum an employer can reimburse tax-free under an accountable plan.
Under federal law, generally no. Some states, such as California, require reimbursement of necessary business expenses. Check your state's rules and your employment agreement.
Not if it is paid under an accountable plan at or below the IRS rate and you substantiate the trips. Amounts above the rate, or unsubstantiated payments, are generally taxable.
For most employees, unreimbursed employee expenses are not deductible on a federal return for tax years 2018 onward. Some states differ. Self-employed people deduct business mileage on Schedule C.
Source: IRS standard mileage rates and IRS Publication 463 (accountable plans).
Estimates and general information only — not tax advice. Whether specific miles or expenses are deductible depends on your circumstances; verify with the IRS or a qualified tax professional before filing.