Question
I am often required to travel for work and I would like to deduct my gas expenses from my tax return. What is the standard IRS gas reimbursement?
Answer
You can only deduct gas expenses if you use your vehicle to drive for your job. The expenses you deduct must relate to the following :
- Main job
- Second job
- Both jobs
You can usually deduct unreimbursed vehicle expenses using one of these methods:
- Standard mileage rate — $0.545 per mile in 2018. If you use the standard mileage rate, you will not qualify for the IRS gas reimbursement and therefore cannot deduct the gas separately.
- Actual vehicle expenses
Divide the expenses between personal and business use based on the miles you drove both. ways. Report these expenses on Form 2106.
