The Internal Revenue Service issued the 2013 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.
Although the Internal Revenue Service allows for the calculation of allowable automobile-related deduction by keeping an exact record of the amount paid for such expenses (gasoline, oil, insurance, depreciation, parking fees, tolls, etc.) and allocating those operating and fixed costs to business purposes, employees and self-employeed persons may find it easier to use the standard mileage method. Under the standard mileage method, the taxpayer calculates their allowable automobile deduction by multiplying all business miles driven during the year by the standard mileage rate.
Beginning on Jan. 1, 2013, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be
• 56.5 cents per mile for business purposes
• 24 cents per mile for medical or moving purposes
• 14 cents per mile in service of charitable organizations