New Standard Mileage Rates for 2015

The Internal Revenue Service announced yesterday the 2015 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of ordinary and necessary business expenses of local transportation or travel away from home for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2015, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car, van, pickup or panel truck are:

• 57.5 cents per mile for business miles driven, up from 56 cents in 2014
• 23 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes, down half a cent from 2014
• 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations

The standard mileage rate for business is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile, including depreciation, insurance, repairs, tires, maintenance, gas and oil. The rate for medical and moving purposes is based on the variable costs, such as gas and oil. The charitable rate is set by law.

Taxpayers always have the option of claiming deductions based on the actual costs of using a vehicle rather than the standard mileage rates.

However, a taxpayer may not use the business standard mileage rate for a vehicle after claiming certain tax provisions such as accelerated depreciation, including the Section 179 expense deduction, on that vehicle. Likewise, the standard rate is not available to fleet owners (more than four vehicles used simultaneously).

For questions about other deductible business or vehicle expenses and other tax planning questions, please contact us for an appointment.