Are you a professional driver or do you use your car for business purposes as part of your freelancing work? Or perhaps you’re an employer looking to streamline mileage logging for your employees? Look no further, because we have the perfect solution for you: the IRS mileage journal template.
Printable Mileage Journal Template for 2024
You can download the printable mileage journal template that uses the IRS standard mileage rate for 2024 – 67 cents per mile for business-related travel. It’s an excellent tool for accurately tracking your mileage and ensuring you have all the necessary information when reporting your miles to the IRS.
Important note: If you choose to use the Google Sheets version, make sure to copy the sheet to your own account. You won’t be able to make direct edits to the publicly available version. For a faster solution, you can download the Excel file or use the Driversnote app.
Keeping a mileage journal can sometimes be a tedious and time-consuming process, but there are ways to make it a little easier for you or your team. One way to start is by using a template, as it ensures you have all the necessary information when declaring your miles to the IRS.
How to Use the Mileage Journal Template
A mileage journal is a monthly or yearly record of your business-related travel that the IRS or your employer may require for tax deductions or reimbursements. Regardless of your situation, the minimum information required includes the miles for each business trip, the total miles for the year, the date and location of each trip, as well as its purpose. You can log all this information in our printable mileage journal templates in PDF, Excel, and Sheets formats.
It’s important to keep up-to-date mileage records. This means filling out the mileage journal template at the time of departure or shortly thereafter. Weekly updates are generally considered sufficient.
According to the IRS, your mileage journal template should include the following information:
- Miles traveled for each business trip
- Date of each trip
- Destination and purpose of your trip
- Total miles traveled for the year
You don’t have to worry about the format of your mileage journal as long as all the required information is included. Whether it’s a paper journal, a ledger, a notebook, or digital formats such as CSV files, PDFs, or XLSX (Microsoft Excel), all are accepted by the IRS. However, we recommend considering an app like Driversnote for time-saving convenience and ensuring compliance.
Keep Your Mileage Journals Handy for Audits
First and foremost, you need to regularly update your records and ensure they are accurate and up to date. The IRS requires you to keep your mileage form for three years from the day you submit your tax return with your deduction.
Save Time with an Automated Mileage Journal App
Mileage tracking apps like Driversnote record your drives in real-time, saving you from manually entering data for each trip. Simply launch the app and start tracking your journey; the app will record your trip as you drive. You’ll have a comprehensive record with start and end times, departure and destination points, as well as the purpose of your trip.
Using an app takes the hassle out of organizing and maintaining mileage journals. The app takes care of tracking the data for you, and your complete mileage form will be just a click away at any time.
FAQ about the Mileage Journal Template
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Q: Do I need to keep a paper copy of my mileage journal?
- A: No, the IRS also accepts digital files such as PDFs and spreadsheets.
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Q: Can I use a mileage tracking app for my tax deductions?
- A: Yes, a mileage tracking app like Driversnote is a convenient method for keeping your mileage records up to date.
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Q: What is the best method for keeping a mileage journal?
- A: It depends on your preferences and needs, but automated mileage tracking apps can save you time and ensure full compliance.
Now that you have all the necessary information, download our printable mileage journal template and start keeping an accurate and organized record of your miles today!
For more information and useful resources, visit Crawlan.com.
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