The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced the optional 2018 standard mileage rates (Notice 2018-03) used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, medical or moving, and charitable purposes. The standard mileage rates have increased slightly in comparison to 2017.
The IRS Standard mileage rates for the use of an automobile effective on or after January 1, 2018 will be:
- 54.5 cents per mile for business miles driven
- 18 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes
- 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations
The business mileage rate is calculated using an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating a vehicle (i.e., depreciation, insurance, repairs, maintenance, gas and oil). The medical or moving mileage rate is calculated using the variable costs (i.e., gas and oil). The business mileage rate, as well as, the medical or moving mileage rates have both increased by 1 cent per mile.
The charitable rate is set by Congress and never adjusted for inflation. This amount has remained unchanged.
As always, the option of claiming deductions based on the actual costs of using a vehicle rather than the rates listed above is available to taxpayers.
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