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New Member
posted Jun 6, 2019 4:40:43 AM

If my vehicle is used almost 100% for business, can I just track the personal miles to be subtracted out of the total miles?

Business use is as a real estate agent, so the vehicle is always used for business with the exception of miles driven for personal reasons.  I work out of the home on a regular basis, so no commuting miles.   For supporting documentation, can I just show the beginning & ending miles to calculate the total miles driven, and then track & subtract out the personal miles driven from the total?

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1 Best answer
New Member
Jun 6, 2019 4:40:45 AM

No. You can only deduct mileage if you keep a written log of your business miles otherwise you can't deduct mileage. Per IRS, you have to have adequate evidence. See https://www.irs.gov/publications/p463/ch05.html .

The IRS considers adequate evidence as a log of  "who, what, when, and where" which may include the following:

  • The cost of the car and any improvements,
  • The date you started using it for business,
  • The mileage for each business use,
  • The total miles for the year.
  • Date of the expense.
  • Your business destination.
  • Business purpose for the expense. 

If you are self-employed (Schedule C), enter/edit your vehicle's mileage:

  • Log on to TurboTax and click on the orange button, Take me to my return.
  • Type vehicle expenses, self-employed business in the search/find box and click search.
  • Click on Jump to vehicle expenses, self-employed business.
  • Edit your business.
  • At the 'Your xxxx Business' screen, scroll down to Business Expenses.
  • Click start/update next to Business Vehicle Expense.
  • Continue with the onscreen interview until you get to the 'How Do You Want to Enter Your Mileage for your vehicle'.  

See the screenshot below.

1 Replies
New Member
Jun 6, 2019 4:40:45 AM

No. You can only deduct mileage if you keep a written log of your business miles otherwise you can't deduct mileage. Per IRS, you have to have adequate evidence. See https://www.irs.gov/publications/p463/ch05.html .

The IRS considers adequate evidence as a log of  "who, what, when, and where" which may include the following:

  • The cost of the car and any improvements,
  • The date you started using it for business,
  • The mileage for each business use,
  • The total miles for the year.
  • Date of the expense.
  • Your business destination.
  • Business purpose for the expense. 

If you are self-employed (Schedule C), enter/edit your vehicle's mileage:

  • Log on to TurboTax and click on the orange button, Take me to my return.
  • Type vehicle expenses, self-employed business in the search/find box and click search.
  • Click on Jump to vehicle expenses, self-employed business.
  • Edit your business.
  • At the 'Your xxxx Business' screen, scroll down to Business Expenses.
  • Click start/update next to Business Vehicle Expense.
  • Continue with the onscreen interview until you get to the 'How Do You Want to Enter Your Mileage for your vehicle'.  

See the screenshot below.