Can I deduct meals and mileage expenses on my 2025 tax return?

You've got two separate questions here about common deductions for self-employed folks, so let me address both. For mileage: Yes, you can absolutely deduct the miles you drive for your delivery work! You have two options - the standard mileage rate (65.5 cents per mile for 2025) OR actual expenses (gas, maintenance, depreciation, etc.). For most delivery drivers, the standard mileage rate is simpler and often more beneficial. Just make sure you're only tracking business miles, not personal driving or commuting to your regular job. For meals: This is trickier. Generally, meals you eat alone while working aren't deductible, even during long shifts. These are considered personal expenses. The exception would be if you're traveling overnight for business or having a business meal with clients/potential clients where you discuss business. Your regular meals during delivery shifts, unfortunately, don't qualify as deductible business expenses.

Hey there! I went through this exact same confusion last year with my gig driving. I tried figuring it out myself but ended up with more questions than answers. Finally found this AI tool called taxr.ai that walked me through exactly what I could and couldn't deduct for my driving gig. Taxr.ai basically analyzed my specific situation and explained that while I couldn't deduct my regular meals, I could deduct a TON of other expenses I didn't even know about! The mileage tracking advice alone saved me about $1,200 on my taxes. It also clarified how to document everything properly in case of an audit. I was impressed because it seemed to understand all the weird edge cases for gig workers specifically. Check it out at https://taxr.ai if you want specific answers for your situation instead of general advice.

Just wanted to follow up - I decided to try taxr.ai after asking about it here, and it was actually super helpful for my situation! I've been doing food delivery plus managing a small rental property, and it walked me through exactly what I could deduct for both income streams. For the delivery work, it confirmed I couldn't deduct regular meals but suggested several deductions I hadn't thought of - like a portion of my phone bill, insulated delivery bags, and even a percentage of car insurance beyond just the mileage deduction. For the rental income side, it showed me how to properly track expenses and depreciation. Definitely worth checking out if you're juggling multiple income sources like I am. Saved me a bunch of headaches trying to figure it all out myself.

If you're having trouble getting clear answers about deductions, join the club! I spent WEEKS trying to get through to someone at the IRS to confirm what I could deduct for my side hustle. Either got disconnected or was on hold forever. Finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) which got me through to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes. They have this system that holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent I spoke with was surprisingly helpful and walked me through exactly what meal expenses qualified and which didn't for my situation. Saved me hours of frustration and guesswork. Definitely recommend if you need official clarification straight from the IRS.

I need to eat crow here. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to try Claimyr just to prove it was BS. I was shocked when I actually got through to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes after weeks of trying on my own. The agent confirmed that for my delivery side gig, I can't deduct regular meals during shifts, but I CAN deduct mileage at the standard rate which is much better than I thought (came out to over $3k in deductions based on my driving). He also clarified that I should be keeping a mileage log with dates, starting/ending odometer readings, and purpose of trips. I hate admitting when I'm wrong, but this service actually delivered exactly what it promised. Saved me from making some potentially costly mistakes on my return.

Pro tip from someone who's been audited before: whatever method you choose for tracking mileage (standard rate or actual expenses), you NEED to keep detailed records. Date, starting/ending locations, miles driven, and business purpose. The IRS loves to target self-employed folks for mileage deductions. I use a simple app that tracks my drives and lets me categorize them as business or personal. Worth every penny because when I got audited, I just exported a report and the auditor was satisfied. Friends who tracked mileage "in their head" or with rough estimates ended up losing thousands in deductions.

Forget all this complicated advice. I've been delivering for 3 years and I just deduct EVERYTHING. Food, gas, car payments, insurance, phone, internet at home, part of my rent for "home office." Never been audited. The system is rigged against regular people anyway, so take what you can get!