IRS Releases New Mileage Rates for 2026

By
December 29, 2025

The Internal Revenue Service issued the 2026 optional standard mileage rates today for computing the deductible cost of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical, or moving purposes.  The most notable change is the per mile increase for business use mileage.

Effective January 1, 2026, the optional standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

  1. 72.5 cents per mile driven for business use.  This is an increase from the rate for 2025.
  2. The rate for medical or moving purposes in 2026 will be 20.5 cents per mile, a decrease from 2025.
  3. The rate per mile driven in service of charitable organizations remains unchanged from 2025 at 14 cents.

These rates apply to electric and hybrid-electric automobiles, as well as gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles.

The standard mileage rate for business use is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile.  The rate for medical and moving purposes is based on the variable costs.

These mileage rates apply only to those expenses incurred or paid by a taxpayer on or after January 1, 2026 (and if reimbursed by an employer on or after that date).  Expenses incurred prior to January 1, 2026 (whether reimbursed by the employer before or after that date) are still subject to the 2025 rate (70 cents for business transportation).

This increase in mileage rates is relevant to employers that reimburse employees for business transportation based on mileage.  While there is no legal requirement that employees be reimbursed at the IRS standard rate, many employers have a policy of doing so.  As a reminder, any payments to an employee based on business travel at a rate more than the IRS standard rate generally is taxable income to the employee.

If you have questions regarding the above, please contact Mary Ellen Schill, the author of this article, or any of the attorneys in the Employment & Benefits Practice Group of Ruder Ware.

Back to all News & Insights

This document provides information of a general nature regarding legislative or other legal developments, and is based on the state of the law at the time of the original publication of this article. None of the information contained herein is intended as legal advice or opinion relative to specific matters, facts, situations, or issues, and additional facts and information or future developments may affect the subjects addressed. You should not act upon the information in this document without discussing your specific situation with legal counsel.

© 2026 Ruder Ware, L.L.S.C. Accurate reproduction with acknowledgment granted. All rights reserved.