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Danbrich
Level 1

mileage expenses

I am a sole proprietor and I use my car about 60% business and 40% personal. I plan to use the standard mileage rate for taxes at the end of the year. Rather than taking mileage reimbursements throughout the year, would this work? I would create a gas expense account and charge most of my gas to that account. I figure the entire cost of gas only would roughly equate to the standard mileage rate for 60% of my vehicle usage. Then at tax time I will multiply my business miles by the standard mileage rate and use that amount for taxes. I will make a draw or payment to my accounting program so taxes and books will match. Thanks in advance.

4 Comments 4
Rustler
Level 15

mileage expenses

It takes a little to set up what you need in the event of an audit, but ...

 

Use a spreadsheet
One cell has to be reserved for the starting odometer reading on 1 Jan xx, and another cell for the ending odometer reading on 12/31/xx

 

Each row should have a cell for the date of the start of the trip
the odometer reading at the start
where you are leaving from, and going to
the odometer reading when you arrive
the date of arrival.

I set up a cell to do the math for the number of miles traveled per trip, and then I summed that column.

 

Use the business CC for all fuel and oil you buy, both business and personal.

 

End of the year you do the math to determine the total number of miles driven all year (ending odometer less starting odometer), this is both business and personal miles.

Do the math to determine the percent of business use and the percent of personal use

 

Then do a journal entry debit owner equity drawing and credit the fuel/oil expense account for the percentage of personal use.  You have to do the math first though, multiply the figure for the percent of personal use times the total for the expense account and use that number in the journal entry.

 

At that point you are done, other than using the total business miles as the input for the IRS standard deduction.

 

Business books do not have to match the IRS filing, in fact if you sell inventory items it will not, since QB uses FIFO (QBO) or average cost (desktop) and the IRS does not.

 

Danbrich
Level 1

mileage expenses

Thanks for your response. It was very helpful. I guess I was trying to figure out if I could keep “approximate” figures throughout the year (by just using fuel expenses) and then even it up at tax time using actual mileage figures and standard mileage rate. You answered that for me. Thanks. 

MaryLandT
Moderator

mileage expenses

I'm happy to hear that Rustler's reply is helpful to your query, Danbrich.

 

Please know that the Community forum is always open to answer your questions. So please don't hesitate to post again if you have other queries.

 

Thank you and take care always!

Rainflurry
Level 15

mileage expenses

@Danbrich 

 

It's important to point out that you cannot take depreciation on your car if you use the standard mileage rate but you can if you use the actual expense method.  Depending on the value of your car, that can be a considerable tax deduction.

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