topic I was a personal driver and my employer paid for mileage. Am I still able to claim it? in Deductions & credits

I was a personal driver and my employer paid for mileage. Am I still able to claim it?

cwalter5 — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 05:49:15 GMT

I had to get an oil change, new tires and brakes while I worked for them and paid a lot for gas, but it does not appear that any of that helps more than claiming the mileage.

Re: I was a personal driver and my employer paid for mileage. Am I still able to claim it?

xmasbaby0 — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 20:48:40 GMT

Are you a W-2 employee? You say you have an employer.

Sorry---W-2 employees cannot deduct job-related expenses on a federal return. Job-related expenses were eliminated as a federal deduction for W-2 employees by the tax laws that changed for 2018 and beyond. Your state tax laws might be different in AL, AR, CA, HI, MN, NY or PA.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/4482873-which-federal-tax-deductions-have-been-suspended-by-tax-reform

Re: I was a personal driver and my employer paid for mileage. Am I still able to claim it?

DawnC — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 20:55:21 GMT

You should not claim anything you were reimbursed for. Mileage deductions are generally for the Self-Employed. At the end of the year, did you get a 1099 (you are self-employed) or a Form W-2 (you are an employee)? TurboTax Deluxe doesn't handle self-employed tax returns, it does handle employee tax returns.

For employees, you can't deduct employment related expenses. See Can employees deduct any job-related expenses? Only those 4 situations qualify for a vehicle mileage deduction.

If you’re self-employed or own a business, enter your business-related expenses on Schedule C instead.

For vehicle expenses (that you were not reimbursed for) you can choose the actual costs (oil, tires, repairs, gas, etc.) OR the standard mileage deduction. Standard Mileage vs. Actual Expenses: Getting the Biggest Tax Deduction. That links explains the difference.

But again, this deduction is available to the self-employed or the following employees:

Armed Forces reservist
Qualified performing artist
Fee-basis state or local government official
You're disabled and have impairment-related expenses