The Constitution of a Mileage Log

A mileage log helps you track miles driven for work, health, charity, and moving. It’s key for saving money on taxes or getting paid back by your job. Let’s learn more about it.

What is a Mileage Log and Why Do You Need One?

A mileage log is a record of your car trips, telling you how far you drove and why. You need one to prove your driving expenses to the IRS or your boss. For instance, you can often write off the cost of driving your own car for business.

Keeping a good mileage log is very important. It helps you get tax money back and avoid problems if the IRS asks questions. According to the IRS, you need to keep clear records of your driving. (Link to IRS Topic 510: Business Use of Car).

What Your Mileage Log Must Include

To create a compliant mileage log, you need to write down specific things for each trip.

Your log should have:

• The date you drove.
• Where you started and where you went.
• The reason for the trip (like a business meeting or medical visit).
• How many miles did you drive? You can get this from:
  • The start and end numbers on your car’s odometer reading.
  • The total miles for that trip.

It’s best to write this down as soon as you finish a trip. Waiting too long can make your log less accurate, and the IRS likes logs that were kept while the driving happened.

Of course, it is possible to recreate your mileage log, but avoid mileage log generators that make random mileage logs.

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