Or open the printable log and print it from your browser.
What's in the log
One row per business drive, with the columns the IRS asks for:
- Date of the drive.
- From and to: where you started and where you went.
- Business purpose, such as “Site visit, Lopez remodel” or “DoorDash deliveries”.
- Odometer start and end, or just the miles.
The spreadsheet adds the rate for each drive's date and the deduction, and its Summary tab has the numbers for lines 44a to 44c of Schedule C. What the IRS wants in a mileage log explains each field.
How to use it
- Write each drive down the same day. A log kept as you go counts for far more than one pieced together at tax time.
- Note your odometer on January 1 and December 31. It shows how much of the car's driving was business.
- Leave out your commute. Driving from home to a regular workplace isn't business. See which drives count.
- Keep it for three years after you file, with receipts for business parking and tolls.
Tired of writing it down?
A paper log only works if you never forget it, and every drive you miss is deduction left behind. MileLock fills in the same log on its own: it records every drive from your iPhone's GPS, you swipe business or personal, and the PDF is ready at tax time. Try the mileage calculator to see what your miles are worth.
This explains the IRS rules in plain English. It isn't tax advice; for your own situation, ask a tax professional.
Let MileLock keep the log for you
It records every drive on its own, you swipe business or personal, and the IRS-ready log is one tap away. Free for 30 drives a month.