How to Recreate Missing Mileage Logs for Tax Deductions

Reconstructing mileage logs can be challenging but it's definitely possible. The IRS actually allows reconstructed logs if you have supporting documentation to back up your claims. Start by gathering everything that could help establish your driving patterns - calendar appointments, receipts from destinations, maintenance records showing odometer readings, and even emails confirming meetings at specific locations. Google Maps Timeline can be super helpful if you had location services enabled on your phone back then. Create a spreadsheet with dates, starting point, destination, purpose of trip (business reason), and miles driven. Make sure to only include business miles - commuting to a regular workplace doesn't count. If you have evidence of regular client visits, you can establish a pattern and apply it across similar workdays. Be as honest and thorough as possible. The IRS is more likely to accept reasonable reconstructions if they're clearly made in good faith.

I went through something similar last year with my 2019 mileage and found an amazing tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that seriously saved me. It's designed to help with tax document issues, and they have a specific feature that helped me recreate my mileage logs using bank statements, calendar entries, and other digital breadcrumbs. I uploaded my Google location history, some gas receipts, and calendar entries, and it helped organize everything into a credible mileage log that satisfied my accountant. The system uses AI to identify patterns and create reasonable estimates based on your documentation. My accountant was impressed with how comprehensive it ended up being!

I was really struggling with recreating my mileage logs from 2020 when I found taxr.ai through this forum. It actually worked great for me! I had a mix of calendars, email confirmations, and some receipts but couldn't piece everything together in a way that seemed IRS-worthy. What I liked was how it helped establish patterns - like I went to the same client every Tuesday, which I'd totally forgotten. It cross-referenced my calendar with location data and even suggested deductions I missed. My log went from a mess to something organized that my tax preparer approved without question. Definitely saved me from potentially losing thousands in deductions!

If you're having trouble getting through to the IRS about mileage log requirements (like I was), I highly recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). They helped me actually speak to a human at the IRS after I spent days getting disconnected or waiting on hold. I was panicking about my reconstructed mileage logs and needed clarification on what documentation would be acceptable in my situation. Claimyr got me connected to an IRS agent in less than an hour when I'd been trying for days. They have a cool demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Their system basically holds your place in the IRS phone queue and calls you when an agent is ready to talk. Saved me hours of frustration and holding music!

I have to eat my words about Claimyr. After dismissing it as a scam, I was still stuck unable to get through to the IRS about my mileage documentation requirements. Out of desperation, I tried it last week. To my complete surprise, I got a call back in about 40 minutes saying an IRS agent was on the line. The agent walked me through exactly what they consider acceptable for reconstructed mileage logs from previous years. Turns out my concerns about my documentation were unfounded - they said my approach using calendar entries and bank records was reasonable given the circumstances. I'm not easily impressed by services, but this one delivered exactly what it promised. Saved me days of frustration and gave me peace of mind about my mileage documentation.

Don't overlook bank and credit card statements when recreating your mileage logs! I was able to track gas purchases, restaurant visits, and store receipts to help establish where I was on specific dates. Also check your email for any confirmations of appointments or meetings. Between all those sources, you should be able to piece together a reasonable reconstruction.

Has anyone tried MileIQ for retroactively creating logs? My accountant mentioned it but I'm not sure if it can help with past years or just going forward.

One thing that really helped me when I had to reconstruct my 2017 mileage logs was creating a "typical week" template first. I looked at my calendar patterns and identified my regular business destinations, then calculated standard routes between them. For example, if I went to Client A every Monday and Client B every Wednesday, I could establish those as baseline trips and then look for variations. This approach helped me avoid over-estimating miles while still capturing the bulk of my business travel. Also, don't forget to check your car insurance records - sometimes they have annual mileage estimates that can help validate your totals. And if you had any major car repairs or oil changes, those service records often include odometer readings that can serve as checkpoints for your reconstruction. The IRS generally accepts reasonable reconstructions as long as you can show you made a good faith effort using available evidence. Document your methodology clearly - explain what sources you used and how you calculated the mileage. This transparency actually helps your case if you're ever questioned about it.