The IRS just released its standard mileage rates for 2013, which show slight increases from the current 2012 rates. These rates are made available so that employees, self-employed individuals, and other taxpayers can calculate their tax-deductible transportation costs for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.
The 2013 standard mileage rates are set at 56.5 cents per mile for business transportation or travel, 24 cents per mile for medical care, and 14 cents per mile for charity purposes. The 2012 rates are 55.5 cents per mile for business transportation or travel, 23 cents per mile for medical care, and the rate for charity purposes stayed the same at 14 cents per mile.
The new rates will take effect on January 1, 2013.
These rates don’t necessarily reflect what a company has to pay their employees for these types of errands. However, employees and self-employed workers can use these numbers to calculate their approximate transportation costs and deduct them for tax purposes.
As always, taxpayers can choose to calculate the actual costs of using their vehicle for these purposes and deduct that amount rather than using the IRS’s standard mileage rates.
For businesses that reimburse their employees for transportation costs, rates can be lower than the IRS’s standard mileage rates, and then employees can simply deduct the difference.
The only way companies can pay their employees more than the standard rates is if the actual costs add up to more than those rates and the employee provides records of those costs. Additional items such as tolls and parking can be taken into account when calculating the actual cost of transportation.
The standard rates usually stay the same throughout the year, but in 2011 the IRS updated the business travel rates mid-year to reflect the increase in gas prices. The standard mileage rates are based on an annual study of both fixed and variable automobile transportation costs.
About Annie Pilon
Annie Pilon is a freelance writer specializing inmarketing, social media, and creative topics. When she’s not writing for her various freelance projects or her personal blog Wattlebird, she can be found exploring all that her home state of Michigan has to offer. 
Every little bit helps, especially for those who are driving a lot.
Robert, I agree: every little bit helps.
Now here’s a tip: plug this rate now into your accounting software, or calendar a note to yourself to remember to change it on January 1st!
Anita
Thanks for the tip, Anita. I would be interested in seeing what the results are.
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