IRS Mileage Deduction Rules for Gig Workers
The 2026 IRS standard mileage rate is 72.5 cents per mile, up from 67 cents in 2024. Here is exactly what qualifies as deductible business mileage and what the IRS requires for documentation.
What Counts as Business Mileage
Deductible Miles
- Driving to pickup locations
- Between deliveries or rides
- To gas stations while on shift
- Returning home after last delivery
- Driving to required platform meetings
NOT Deductible
- Commuting to a regular W-2 job
- Personal errands during a shift
- Driving to pick up personal items
- Miles before your first business activity
Required Documentation
The IRS requires contemporaneous records -- meaning you must record mileage at or near the time of each trip. Required fields: date, destination, business purpose, and miles driven. You should also record odometer readings at the start and end of each year.
Estimated or reconstructed logs are routinely rejected during audits. Automatic GPS-based tracking apps like ShiftTracker satisfy all IRS requirements and provide audit-proof documentation.
The Home Office Exception
If your home qualifies as your principal place of business (you have a dedicated home office used exclusively for business), then all miles from home are deductible -- including the first trip of the day. Most gig workers do not qualify for this exception, but it is worth investigating with a tax professional.
IRS-Compliant Mileage Tracking
ShiftTracker automatically captures date, route, purpose, and miles for every business trip.
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