Options for Keeping Your Mileage Log

I think everyone in real estate knows they need to keep a mileage log. Rest assured that will be one of the first things an IRS agent asks for.  So here are some tips to keep your blood pressure down.

First of all, we need to know your total miles driven for each year. That’s easy peesy! Just have your oil changed at the beginning of every year. The receipts will show the odometer reading for the beginning of each year.

Next we need to establish your business usage. That can be done in several short cut ways. One is to keep a daily log of your business mileage for three consecutive months. The flip side of that is to keep a daily log of your personal mileage for three consecutive months. Either one works.

The IRS will also allow you to keep the mileage log for the same week of each month. So you pick the week such as the second week of every month and have 12 weeks of logs.

The log you keep should have the beginning odometer and ending reading for each day. The net difference is your mileage for the day. Now you just need to tell the story of where you drove that day. These records must be done within one week of their occurrence.

There are many apps out that can help you as well. I use taxbot.com. It has a GPS tracking ability to record your mileage and each day goes to a spreadsheet.

There are exceptions that require you to keep a log 24/7, so should you have any questions just email me or call

Bill Zumwalt
Helping REALTORS with Tax Solutions and Solving Tax Problems for REALTORS
REALTOR Tax Preparation, REALTOR Tax Accountant, Tax Preparation Tulsa, OK
The Tax Coach for REALTORS

William T Zumwalt CPA,CTC, PLLC
5416 South Yale Ave
Suite 120
Tulsa, OK 74135
918-583-1040
888-773-9323
Bill@TeamZumwalt.com
www.TeamZumwalt.com