I was laid off by my employer, but asked to go back to work for them as a contractor. I set myself up as a sole proprietor and am paid as a 1099 employee. As such, can I deduct the mileage between my home and my former employer now that I work for them as a contractor, not an employee. When I was reading some of the help screens for this topic, the term employee was used, and I am not an employee of my former employer. I am now a contractor.
No. Commuting to and from work is not deductible. If you have other driving to do for them during the work day, you can use that on a Schedule C---but not the drive to or from work.
You have self-employment income for which you will pay self-employment tax for Social Security and Medicare. You will need to use online Premium software or any version of the CD/download so that you can prepare a Schedule C for your business expenses.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2926899-how-does-my-side-job-affect-my-taxes
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/self-employed/help/what-is-the-self-employment-tax/00/25922
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2902389-why-am-i-paying-self-employment-tax
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901340-where-do-i-enter-schedule-c
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/3398950-what-self-employed-expenses-can-i-deduct
https://blog.turbotax.intuit.com/self-employed/self-employed-tax-deductions-
calculator-2021-2022-50907/
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901110-do-i-need-to-make-estimated-tax-payments-to-the-irs
https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/calculators/self-employed/
However, if you have an office, even a home office, and you start working there, then the mileage to get to a workplace may be claimed.
The mileage to get to the office is not claimed, mileage from the office to a worksite can be.
Mileage from your office to your home is not claimed.
If you have no office and drive to start your day at that worksite, as stated above, no, that mileage cannot be claimed.