Can I deduct mileage only when going TO a client's home, and then going to another clients' site (home), but what about the return trip? How to errands affect this?

[Irasaco]

Last year I started a small home services business for home-bound seniors, in which I drive to and from clients' homes. I also go from one client's home to another on some days, but usually I stay at that client's home for most of the day, depending on their needs.

I read that if I have a home office, this I can deduct mileage from my home to clients' homes. But, if I am away from home seeing clients, how can I justify a home office when I am rarely home?

(Note: I am using QuickBooks Self Employed to keep track of mileage, although the software is not very accurate with my location. Whenever I return home, it displays a street address that is one block away, so I always have to edit the address. Interestingly, my phone's maps program displays my correct address.)

[Lisa995]

Commuting miles are not deductible.  So when you have a work place, your miles "to and from" home to work are not deductible, but any miles you drive for the business once you leave the workplace are deductible

If you have a home office, then you work day starts from there and all miles you drive for work are deductible.  

So the real question is, do you have a "home office" that meets the IRS qualifications for a home office?
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/must-know-tips-about-the-home-office-deduction">https://www.irs.gov/new...>

[Carl]

Basically, if your home is your "Primary place of business" then the mileage to/from clients is deductible. But in case of audit, be prepared to prove it's your primary place of business. I would expect that your county requires you to have something akin to an "occupational license", and that license should have the address of your primary place of business. That's one possible element of proof.

[SweetieJean]

Your screen name ends in "co."  Do you have an S Corp or C Corp?

[Irasaco]

Re: screen name: I am a sole proprietorship at this time. I was considering a full corp but changed my mind. I might do it in the future, though.

[Opus 17]

Everything you need is in chapter 4 of publication 463. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p463.pdf

You first need to determine your regular workplace.  It might be your home, if you do a significant amount of administrative work there (billing, scheduling, client calls, etc.).  In that case, and if you qualify to claim your home as a home office (publication 587 https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-587) then any mileage driving from your home office to clients is deductible. 

If your home is your main place of work but you don't qualify for a home office deduction for other reasons, then your first trip out and last trip back are commuting expenses and not deductible, but trips between job sites you visit on the same day are deductible.

If your home is not your main place of work and you have no regular place of work, then the only mileage that is deductible is mileage between different job sites on the same day.

Personal miles are never deductible.  You will need to keep careful track, and a mapping app may help.  For example, if the distance between client 1 and client 2 is 8 miles, and it takes you 15 miles because you sidetrack for a personal errand, you can deduct the 8 miles it would have taken, assuming you have the records to show it.