IRS Mileage Deduction for Gig Workers (2026)

Self-employed gig workers in the U.S. may deduct vehicle costs on the return. The IRS publishes an optional standard mileage rate so you can multiply work miles by cents per mile instead of listing actual car expenses. That math does not happen inside GigMeter.

GigMeter stores a mileage total per session for your records. It does not treat miles as a tax deduction and does not subtract a cents-per-mile amount from net. Download on the App Store.

This is not tax advice. Confirm current rates and methods with the IRS or a tax professional. Source: IRS standard mileage rates.

2026 IRS standard mileage rates

The July increase is in IRS Announcement 2026-11, after Notice 2026-10 set the first-half business rate at 72.5 cents. Use the rate that applies to the day you drove.

A quick illustration, not a filing: 1,000 business miles in May 2026 × $0.725 = $725. The same 1,000 miles in August × $0.76 = $760. You still have to show they were work miles.

Work miles vs every mile on the odometer

Commuting to a first workplace is usually personal. Driving between gigs, to a pickup, or while you are already on the clock is the kind of distance people try to substantiate. GigMeter only adds GPS miles while you are clocked in and not paused. Personal errands stay off that total if you pause or clock out first.

The app keeps a session mileage number, not a map of the route, and not a line for “business purpose” on each street. If your tax pro wants a contemporaneous log with destinations, add that in the session note or keep a separate log.

Standard rate vs actual expenses

You generally pick one method per vehicle for the year (with IRS exceptions). Standard mileage is simple. Actual expenses means gas receipts, insurance, repairs, depreciation. You cannot stack the standard rate on top of those same operating costs. GigMeter’s optional gas estimate is for seeing shift net. Using both that estimate and the standard mileage rate on a return is a question for whoever files, not a button we provide.

Reports GigMeter can generate

From Reports you can export CSV or PDF: period net, hours, distance, net per mile, sessions, and expenses including Gas (Estimated) as a subset of expenses. The PDF footer says GigMeter and getgigmeter.com. These are work reports created on the device. They are not Form 1040, Schedule C, or an IRS mileage form.

For the pile you hand to a preparer, see organizing gig work records.