This is my first year to file self employed so how do I answer the question if I used the standard mileage rate the first time?

[CherylW · Accepted solution]

If this is the first year you've filed, then you don't have a last year, this is your first!

You have two options when deducting expenses for your car. 

One is the standard mileage deduction, which will give you .54 per mile, plus any tolls or parking fees. 

The other is the actual expenses, which lets you deduct the cost of gas, insurance, repairs, and other things. 

Keep in mind that when you use the actual expense method, you must elect to use that method for the entire time you use the car for the same business.  You can switch to the standard mileage rate for any year after that, but you can't switch back to the actual expense method.