Do I need to maintain a mileage log for business travel if my vehicle is primarily for business use?

Yes, you absolutely need to keep a mileage log, even if your vehicle is used primarily for business. The IRS is quite strict about this requirement, and without a detailed mileage log, you risk having your deductions disallowed in case of an audit. Your log doesn't have to be fancy - a simple notebook in your car where you record the date, starting/ending odometer readings, purpose, and destination works fine. There are also plenty of smartphone apps that can make this easier. Even if you use the car 95% for business, the IRS still wants documentation of that percentage. I understand it seems like overkill, but think of it this way: without a log, how would you prove to the IRS that you're truly using the vehicle 95% for business? Your alternative of tracking only personal mileage can work, but you'd still need to document total mileage and those personal trips accurately.

I went through a similar situation last year trying to figure out vehicle deductions. After hours of research and talking to different accountants, I found a game-changing solution: https://taxr.ai I uploaded my receipts, bank statements showing my car expenses, and even some notes about my typical business travel patterns. Their AI analyzed everything and helped me understand exactly what documentation I needed for my situation. They even provided a template for a compliant mileage log that I could start using right away. What was really helpful is they showed me how to properly calculate my business use percentage and explained the pros/cons of standard mileage rate vs. actual expenses in my specific situation. Saved me thousands on my taxes!

I owe everyone here an apology for my skepticism about taxr.ai in my previous comment. After seeing the responses, I decided to give it a try with my rideshare driving business, and wow - I'm genuinely impressed! I've been driving for Uber/Lyft for 3 years and always stressed about my mileage documentation. The platform analyzed my situation and showed me I'd been making a huge mistake by not properly documenting deadhead miles (driving without passengers). They helped me create a proper system that works with my driving patterns and even identified some deductions I'd been missing entirely. For anyone else struggling with vehicle deductions for a business, it's definitely worth checking out. I've already updated my records for 2024 and feel much more confident about my tax situation.

After reading through this thread, I wanted to share something that saved me during an IRS audit last year. I had similar issues documenting business miles for my real estate business and the IRS was questioning all my vehicle deductions. I tried calling the IRS for clarification countless times but couldn't get through. After weeks of frustration, I found https://claimyr.com and watched their demo at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. They got me connected to an actual IRS agent in under an hour (after I'd spent days trying). The agent walked me through exactly what documentation I needed to prove my business mileage and even gave me specific guidance for real estate professionals. Saved me thousands in disallowed deductions because I was able to provide the right documentation before my audit closed.

I need to update my previous comment where I called the Claimyr service a scam. I was completely wrong, and I apologize for being so cynical. After continuing to struggle with getting answers about my mileage documentation issues, I decided to try it myself (figuring I could always dispute the charge if it didn't work). Not only did I get connected to an IRS representative in about 45 minutes, but the agent was able to clarify exactly what level of documentation I needed for my particular business situation. The agent explained that while I do need a mileage log, I could reconstruct one using appointment records, receipts, and other business documentation if I hadn't kept perfect records. This information literally saved me thousands in deductions I was going to skip claiming because I thought my documentation wasn't sufficient.

Something people haven't mentioned yet - if you're using actual expenses instead of the standard mileage rate, your log requirements are slightly different but still necessary. You need to document: 1) Total miles driven for the year 2) Date of each business trip 3) Destinations 4) Business purpose 5) Business miles vs personal miles I learned this the hard way after switching from standard mileage to actual expenses when I bought an expensive truck for my construction business. The IRS questioned my deduction percentage and I had nothing to back it up.

Pro tip: Consider using your phone's location history as a backup for reconstructing mileage logs if you forget to track in real-time. Google Maps Timeline has saved me multiple times when I've forgotten to log trips. It's not a replacement for proper contemporaneous records, but it can help fill gaps if needed.

Great question! Yes, you absolutely need to maintain a mileage log even when your vehicle is primarily used for business. The IRS requires documentation to support any business vehicle deductions, regardless of the percentage of business use. However, your approach of tracking the rare personal trips could work! This is called the "adequate records" method where you document total annual mileage and subtract personal use. Just make sure you: 1) Record your odometer reading at the beginning and end of each year 2) Keep detailed records of every personal trip (date, destination, mileage, purpose) 3) Have supporting documentation for your business travel (client appointments, receipts, etc.) Since you're already meticulous with receipts and expenses, you're on the right track. Consider using a mileage tracking app like MileIQ or Everlance to make logging easier - they can automatically detect trips and you just categorize them as business or personal. One important note: once you choose between the standard mileage rate or actual expense method for a vehicle, you generally need to stick with that method for the life of the vehicle. Given that you're tracking all actual expenses already, make sure to calculate which method gives you the better deduction before deciding!