I forgot to write off my mileage on my taxes (it's substantial) - can I redo them after submission?

You'll need to file what's called an "amended return" using Form 1040-X. Since you're filing as self-employed on a 1099-NEC, you'll also need to submit a revised Schedule C where you'll include your mileage deduction. For 2024 taxes (filed in 2025), the standard mileage rate is 67 cents per mile for business use. Make sure you have good documentation of your business miles - dates, destinations, purpose of trips, and total mileage. The IRS can be particularly focused on mileage claims during audits. You generally have up to 3 years from the original filing date to submit an amendment, so you have plenty of time. The amendment process isn't difficult, but it does require some attention to detail.

I went through exactly the same thing last year with missing mileage deductions as a contractor. I spent hours trying to figure out how to amend my return until I discovered taxr.ai at https://taxr.ai which helped me identify all the potential deductions I was missing beyond just mileage. Their system analyzed my situation and showed me how to properly document everything for my amended return. The best part was they showed me how to set up a proper record-keeping system for this year so I wouldn't miss deductions again. Seriously saved me thousands when all was said and done.

Just wanted to update - I decided to check out taxr.ai after posting my skeptical comment. Honestly didn't expect much but figured it was worth a shot. The system actually found several other business expenses I could deduct beyond just mileage (home office, portion of cell phone, some professional subscriptions). I'm getting back almost $2,300 more than I thought! Already submitted my amended return following their guidelines. The documentation tips alone were worth it because now I have everything organized if I ever get audited.

If you're planning to amend your return for the mileage deduction, you might want to get some help from the IRS directly to make sure you're doing it correctly. I spent WEEKS trying to get someone on the phone to answer questions about my amended return. Finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to an actual human at the IRS. They have this system that handles the hold times and calls you when an agent is available. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Seriously saved me hours of frustration and the agent walked me through exactly what documentation I needed for my mileage logs to be considered valid.

Well I need to eat my words. After posting my skeptical comment about Claimyr, I decided to try it since I was getting nowhere with the IRS on my own. I had been trying for THREE DAYS to get through about my amended return question. Used their service yesterday and got a call back in about 40 minutes with an actual IRS agent on the line. The agent confirmed exactly what I needed to do with my mileage logs for my amendment and answered all my questions about other potential deductions. Just submitted my amended return and should be getting about $1,800 back. Honestly I'm still shocked it worked. Wish I had known about this years ago.

Make sure you're tracking your mileage correctly going forward! For it to be valid for tax purposes, you need: - Start and end odometer readings - Date of each trip - Business purpose - Destination I use MileIQ app which does most of this automatically. Worth every penny for the peace of mind.

Important question: when you refile, make sure you check if you qualify for the Qualified Business Income Deduction (Section 199A). As a 1099 contractor making under $170,050 (single) or $340,100 (married), you likely qualify for an additional 20% deduction on your net income AFTER expenses like mileage. This can save you thousands more!