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2026 IRS Mileage Rate

December 27, 2025 09:26PM
CORRECTION: As of 4 PM on December 29th, the 2026 IRS business milage rate is $0.725. Why this changed eludes me. Here is a current link: [www.irs.gov]

Effective January 1, 2026, the IRS mileage rate will be $0.68 per mile.
This is a $0.02 per mile drop compared to 2025. According to my records, this is the first decrease since 2021. Since 2008, there have been 22 rate changes. The rate has decreased in 8 of those 22 times.

Shopping South Jersey, Southeast Pennsylvania, and Delaware above the canal since 2008


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/29/2025 11:53PM by myst4au.
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More About Mystery Shopping Taxes
December 27, 2025 09:52PM
where did you pull such number? I could not locate yet

Shopping Eastern Pennsylvania since 2009
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December 27, 2025 11:06PM
I searched Google for 2026 IRS Mileage rate. This is one link:
[videscienceinstitute.com].
@gene wrote:

where did you pull such number? I could not locate yet

Shopping South Jersey, Southeast Pennsylvania, and Delaware above the canal since 2008
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December 28, 2025 12:26PM
Business: 68 cents per mile
Medical/Moving: 21 cents per mile (moving deduction for active-duty military only)
Charitable: 14 cents per mile

You can find the official guidance and more details on the IRS website

so, when some of you deduct 68 cents per mile on a shop - is the shop still a net positive?

I know, rhetorical question we've discussed many times here....sometimes we shop in order to not have to make our own dinner lol.

Life was passing like a hand waving from a train I wanted to be on
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December 28, 2025 01:33PM
And sometimes we shop to lower our taxable income...
I've definitely gotten to the end of the year, gone 'oh crap' and taken low paying shops just to rack up a few mileage deductions. Two years ago was one of them. Between my husband's job (regular w-2 kinda job), his bonus stocks that vested & my mystery shopping income we were going to go into the next tax bracket. That year I did quite a few shops I normally wouldn't, purchased a new computer and cell phone for shopping.... it was worth it to have the deductions.


@BarefootBliss wrote:

Business: 68 cents per mile
Medical/Moving: 21 cents per mile (moving deduction for active-duty military only)
Charitable: 14 cents per mile

You can find the official guidance and more details on the IRS website

so, when some of you deduct 68 cents per mile on a shop - is the shop still a net positive?

I know, rhetorical question we've discussed many times here....sometimes we shop in order to not have to make our own dinner lol.
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December 28, 2025 07:59PM
<edited>
pointed out to keep politics out of this forum; i forgot this wasn’t the general chat - i totally agree with keeping it out of this one. my apologies.

in the link provided it states “reflecting changes in fuel prices, vehicle maintenance costs, and inflation”, all of which are up, but yet they reduced the mileage rate?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/29/2025 04:12AM by charleybuddy.
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December 28, 2025 09:42PM
It's probably because fuel prices are so low right now.
@charleybuddy wrote:

just another way this current government screws over the small business owner; sure it’s not a big decrease but every little bit adds up.

in the link provided it states “reflecting changes in fuel prices, vehicle maintenance costs, and inflation”, all of which are up, but yet they reduced the mileage rate?
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December 29, 2025 02:29AM
1. Keep politics out of this forum.....
2. I believe someone mentioned above that since 2008 there have been EIGHT decreases.
Please stop with your political agenda.

@charleybuddy wrote:

just another way this current government screws over the small business owner; sure it’s not a big decrease but every little bit adds up.

in the link provided it states “reflecting changes in fuel prices, vehicle maintenance costs, and inflation”, all of which are up, but yet they reduced the mileage rate?
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December 29, 2025 10:10AM
There are economic formulas for all of this, based on math, that haven't changed - or at least I didn't see the announcement, so presumably they are still pulling the same raw data. The number of households that still itemize has dropped substantially, I think the last number i saw was that we are down to only 8%.

So....bravo, I guess.

Life was passing like a hand waving from a train I wanted to be on


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/29/2025 10:11AM by BarefootBliss.
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December 29, 2025 06:54PM
@BarefootBliss wrote:

so, when some of you deduct 68 cents per mile on a shop - is the shop still a net positive?

I usually make more than 68 cents a mile, so yes for me. But occasionally I will make less, and on paper that comes out as a loss. But the 68 cents is based on the average cost of operating all types of vehicles in all parts of the country. So if I buy a low-cost vehicle with good mileage, my actual costs are way below average, especially if gas prices are below average in my state.. I still make a profit for that shop, but I can claim a loss on my taxes.

But yeah, a lot of people who use their personal vehicles for gig work are not really making much or any profit They are essentially lowering the value of their vehicle in exchange for whatever fees they make. They may know fully well they are doing this, but the bills are due at the end of the month. I've done this on occasion myself.
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December 29, 2025 09:43PM
It says the business rate for 2026 is 72.5 cents per mile on the IRS website.
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December 30, 2025 01:06AM
You are corrrct. As of 4 PM on December 29th, the 2026 IRS business milage rate is $0.725. Why this changed eludes me. Here is a current link: [www.irs.gov]
@Bob Stone wrote:

It says the business rate for 2026 is 72.5 cents per mile on the IRS website.

Shopping South Jersey, Southeast Pennsylvania, and Delaware above the canal since 2008
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December 30, 2025 03:41AM
Some further info on it:

[www.morningstar.com]

Life was passing like a hand waving from a train I wanted to be on
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December 30, 2025 03:42AM
Some further explanation on it:

[www.morningstar.com]

Life was passing like a hand waving from a train I wanted to be on
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