Vehicle Expenses

Recently, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced the new standard mileage rates to deduct vehicle expenses for the 2015 tax year.  The latest rules impact individuals using a vehicle for business, charity, or medical and moving purposes. With the exception of the costs related to business, the standard mileage rates all stayed the same or were slightly down from 2014 due to lower gas and oil costs.

What is the the standard mileage deduction rate for 2015?

For 2015, the standard mileage rate increases to $0.575 for business miles driven, up from $0.56 in 2014 (reference: Internal Revenue Notice 2014-114). While the IRS expects fuel prices to be lower in 2015, an annual study indicated higher fixed and variable costs for operating an automobile, including depreciation, insurance, repairs, tires, and maintenance.

The rate will be $0.23 per mile for medical or moving purposes, down $0.005 from 2014, and $0.14 per mile driven in service of charitable organizations. The medical and moving expenses are based on the lower expected price of oil, while the charitable rate is set by law.

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