{"id":21703,"date":"2019-08-28T12:42:56","date_gmt":"2019-08-28T19:42:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/infinity-staffing.biz\/?p=21703"},"modified":"2023-12-19T03:58:39","modified_gmt":"2023-12-19T10:58:39","slug":"how-to-track-your-mileage-for-work-the-ultimate-guide-to-nailing-your-first-mileage-claim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/infinity-staffing.biz\/blog\/how-to-track-your-mileage-for-work-the-ultimate-guide-to-nailing-your-first-mileage-claim\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Track Your Mileage For Work: The Ultimate Guide To Nailing Your First Mileage Claim"},"content":{"rendered":"

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While tracking your mileage on the job can be a tedious project, it\u2019s important to be able to accurately prove your mileage while working.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If your employer reimburses you for the mileage you cover, you\u2019ll need to be able to prove you traveled those miles so that you can get the payment.<\/span><\/p>\n

In order to collect your full mileage claim payment without any hassle, you really just need to keep a few simple steps in mind.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But before we go over how to track your miles, let\u2019s talk about why you\u2019re being reimbursed for them in the first place.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Do Some Employees Get Reimbursed For Mileage At Work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

According to Peggy Emch of Timeshare<\/span><\/a>,<\/span> \u201cWhile federal law does not require employers to reimburse employee expenses and mileage, some states, such as <\/span><\/i>California<\/i><\/b><\/a>, do. Furthermore, federal law does require that employers pay minimum wage.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

When the cost of the expense causes the employee to drop below the minimum wage, the employer does have to reimburse mileage and expenses.\u2019<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

While in many other states, employers are only required to reimburse workers if mileage expenses are putting them below minimum wage, in California, all employers must reimburse for mileage and expenses acquired while traveling on the job.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How Much Should You Get Reimbursed For?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The IRS sets a different standard mileage reimbursement rate each year for employers to use as a guide for their company reimbursement policies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2019, the rate is .58 cents per mile for standard business use.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Most companies use this rate, but there are special cases in areas where the cost of vehicle operation is especially high, that the employer may choose to reimburse at a higher rate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For various reasons, some employers may even choose to use a lower rate.<\/span><\/p>\n

If your employer uses a rate that is above the IRS standard, <\/span>the difference is taxable for you<\/span><\/i> and not for your employer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, if your employer reimburses .60 per mile, they will get a tax break for the first .56 cents per mile. You can then claim the remaining .04 per mile on your tax return.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

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How Do You Accurately Track Your Miles?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Above all else, be sure to track your miles every day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is critical. Do not try to guess your mileage at the end of the week, or month – or worse, at the end of the year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If things aren\u2019t recorded meticulously, the IRS can audit the business you work for.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This may cause a loss of deduction on top of some very hefty pen<\/span>alty fees.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Dr. Jean Murray of The Balance Small Business<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/i>The<\/span><\/i> IRS wants<\/span><\/i><\/a> \u2018timely and accurate\u2019 records. It expects you to keep a \u2018daily log\u2019 showing miles traveled, destination, and business purpose.\u2019 The easiest way to do this is to stick to an \u2018at-the-time\u2019 log. You will need four pieces of information for every business trip: the date, your odometer reading at the start and finish, and why you are making the trip.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

The IRS doesn\u2019t care <\/span>how<\/span><\/i> you track your mileage as long as you can clearly provide:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n