Can I Enter Total Mileage as One Line Item in TurboTax for Real Estate Work?

That's a huge relief! I was dreading copying over hundreds of trips. Do you know if I need to categorize the mileage in any way? Like separate commuting miles vs business miles, or is it all just considered business mileage since I'm going to client properties?

Since you're self-employed as an appraiser, trips from your home office to client properties are considered business miles, not commuting. If you have a qualifying home office that serves as your principal place of business, pretty much all your work-related driving can be counted as business mileage. The only miles you wouldn't count are personal trips or if you have a separate office location where you regularly work, in which case the trips between your home and that office would be non-deductible commuting.

Does it work with other tax software besides TurboTax? I've been using FreeTaxUSA and wondering if I could use taxr.ai with that.

How does it handle mixed-use vehicles? I use my car for both business and personal, and I've always been worried about claiming too much.

It works with any tax software because it gives you the final numbers to enter, so you can use those totals with FreeTaxUSA, TaxAct, or whatever system you prefer. It's more about analyzing your documents to get the right numbers rather than being tied to a specific tax platform. For mixed-use vehicles, it helps you properly allocate business vs. personal use based on your records. It flags potential issues and even provides documentation explaining why certain trips qualify as business expenses, which is super helpful if you're worried about claiming too much.

Wait, how does this actually work? Does it just put you ahead in the phone queue somehow? That seems impossible with the IRS system.

Sorry but this sounds like a scam. Nobody can magically get you through to the IRS faster. They probably just connect you to some fake "tax expert" who isn't really with the IRS.

It uses a callback system to monitor the IRS phone lines and then calls you when it's about to connect. It's completely legitimate - you're speaking with actual IRS representatives, not third-party "experts." It just handles the waiting part for you so you don't have to stay on hold. I was skeptical at first too, but it's just a time-saving service. When they connect you, you're talking directly to the same IRS agents you'd reach if you waited on hold yourself. The phone number displayed is the official IRS number, and the agents identify themselves as IRS employees.

Do those apps create reports that would satisfy the IRS if I got audited? My spreadsheet has columns for date, client name, property address, and miles, plus notes about the appraisal job.

Yes, the reports from these apps include all the information the IRS requires for documentation. They capture the date, starting point, destination, purpose of the trip, and mileage. Many even include maps of the routes taken which adds another layer of documentation. The IRS wants to see that you're tracking the date, mileage, destination, and business purpose - which these apps record automatically. Some even let you add notes or categorize by client, which sounds similar to what you're already doing manually in your spreadsheet.

I actually went through an audit last year where they questioned my mileage (I'm a visiting nurse). They just wanted to see my log which had dates, patient addresses (no names due to HIPAA), and miles. I had about 22,000 business miles and they didn't question a single entry once they saw my detailed records. Don't be afraid to claim what you're legitimately entitled to!