You should claim your actual vehicle expenses if the total of the expenses result in a higher deduction than the standard mileage would give you. To use the standard mileage rate, you must keep a log of each trip with miles driven during the first year your vehicle is used for business. After that, you can either go with standard mileage or actual cost (unless you lease, in which case you must stick with standard mileage for the duration of the lease).
For 2017 the standard mileage rate for business is 53.5 cents a mile.
To claim vehicle mileage for self employment/business:
- Login to your TurboTax online account
- Click Take me to my return or pick up where I left off
- In the search box (located in the upper right hand corner), type in Schedule C
- This will take you to the area to enter Schedule C information. Click edit next to your existing business (under line of work) or click add more income (if you still need to add the business)
- Scroll down and click add expenses for this work
- In the Tell us about any expenses for (your business) screen, scroll down, click the button next to vehicle and click Continue
- This will take you to the Did you use a car or truck for your (business) work? screen. Continue with the onscreen instructions to add any actual or mileage for the business.
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