The reason TurboTax is asking the question about what method you used for car expenses last year is that, if you want to use the standard mileage rate method in any tax year, you must do so in the first tax year you use your car for business.
In later years, you can choose to switch back and forth between the methods from year to year. Each year, you’ll want to calculate your expenses both ways and then choose the method that yields the larger deduction and greater tax benefit to you. If you use the actual expense method in the first year, you are required to continue to use this method for that specific vehicle in future years.
If you did not claim any business use for the car in 2024, you may need to go back and change your answers to some of the questions.
Please see this TurboTax tips article for more information about this topic, particularly as it applies to rideshare drivers.
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