08/19/2026
The IRS changed the mileage rate mid-year — and your 2026 log needs a line in the sand at July 1.
This almost never happens. On July 13, the IRS raised the standard business mileage rate retroactive to July 1, which means 2026 has two business rates:
🚗 Jan 1 – Jun 30: 72.5¢ per mile
🚗 Jul 1 – Dec 31: 76¢ per mile
Good news — every business mile you drive for the rest of the year is worth more. The catch? A single annual mileage total is no longer a usable number. Your records have to support two separate subtotals, and the split has to hold up.
For a contractor driving 14,000 miles this year, getting it wrong means either leaving a few hundred dollars on the table or overstating the deduction on the return. Neither is necessary.
The one thing to do this week: pull a mileage report covering January 1 through June 30 and save it. Then start a clean second half. If your app only exports one number for the year, you have a problem that's a lot easier to fix in August than in March.
The full breakdown — including the reimbursement trap for employers and the vehicle method choice you can't undo — is here 👇
https://manadatax.com/2026-mileage-rates
Not sure your log would hold up? Let's take a look before it matters.
