How do I track business mileage for tax deductions?

Updated September 5, 2026

To log a trip, open the Mileage tab, tap +, enter the trip name, date, and miles driven. Flippd calculates your deduction using the IRS standard mileage rate in effect on the trip's date.

Two Ways to Track

Manual Entry

1. Open the Mileage tab
2. Tap + to log a new trip
3. Enter the trip details:
   • Trip Name (e.g., "Home to Post Office") -- tap Pick a destination to choose a saved or storage location
   • Mileage Date
   • Miles Driven (or Kilometers Driven in metric countries)
   • Miles Deduction -- calculated automatically from the miles and the IRS rate for that date
   • Notes (optional)
4. Tap Save

Trips you log by hand are business mileage -- there's no business/personal switch on the form. Only auto-tracked trips need classifying.

Live Trip Tracking

1. Open the Mileage tab and set the tracking mode to Manual (tap Manage on the tracking card, then Tracking mode)
2. Tap Start Trip to begin live GPS tracking
3. Drive to your destination -- Flippd tracks the route in real time
4. Tap Stop Trip when you arrive
5. Review the distance, classify the trip, and save

The Rate Flippd Uses

Flippd applies the IRS standard mileage rate in effect on the trip's date, so a trip from last year is calculated at last year's rate:

Earlier years are covered too, back to 2011. See current and past rates under Settings > Mileage > Mileage Rates.

Saved Locations

Save frequently visited places for faster trip entry:

• Tap Manage on the tracking card, then Manage Saved Locations
• Add locations like your local thrift stores, post office, or storage unit
• When logging a trip, tap Pick a destination and select a saved location instead of typing it each time

Getting Your Log Out

• Reports > Tax Reports > Mileage Log gives you an IRS-ready mileage log (PDF) for your accountant
• You can also Print or Export from the overflow menu on the Mileage tab
• Under Manage > Vehicle & odometer, enter your vehicle and its odometer reading on Jan 1 -- it's shown on your IRS mileage log

Your Location Data Stays Private

Trips and their GPS routes are stored on your device, not in the cloud. When you save a trip for your records, Flippd keeps the mileage and the deduction but leaves the detailed location trail on your phone. You get an accurate, IRS-ready mileage log without your movements being synced to a server.

Good to Know

• Only business trips count as tax deductions -- mark personal trips separately
• Common business trip purposes: sourcing at thrift stores, post office runs, storage unit visits
• Keep a consistent log -- the IRS requires mileage records to claim the deduction
• You can duplicate a trip entry (Dupe) for recurring routes
• Outside the US, the IRS rates don't apply -- type your own deduction amount on each trip
• If your business country uses the metric system, the form asks for Kilometers Driven and rates show per kilometer
• On a trip's detail, Items sourced on this trip lets you Attach the inventory items you bought on that trip
• The free plan caps how many trips you can log; subscribers have no cap -- see What are the usage limits on the free plan?

Related Articles

• How does automatic trip detection work?
• Why isn't automatic mileage tracking detecting my drives?
• How do I configure mileage deduction rates?
• How do I prepare my tax reports and export data for my accountant?
• How do I add and track business expenses?