IRS Standard Mileage Rate for Business Decreases for 2010

December 3, 2009 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - The Internal Revenue Service has issued the 2010 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.

Beginning on January 1, 2010, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

  • 50 cents per mile for business miles driven,
  • 16.5 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes, and
  • 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations.

 

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The new rates for business, medical and moving purposes are slightly lower than last year’s to reflect generally lower transportation costs compared to a year ago, the IRS said.

The standard mileage rate for business 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 as determined by the same study, conducted by independent contractor Runzheimer International.

The IRS reminded taxpayers that they may not use the business standard mileage rate for a vehicle after using any depreciation method under the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) or after claiming a Section 179 deduction for that vehicle. In addition, the business standard mileage rate cannot be used for any vehicle used for hire or for more than four vehicles used simultaneously.

Taxpayers always have the option of calculating the actual costs of using their vehicle rather than using the standard mileage rates.

Additional information is in Revenue Procedure 2009-54 .

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