What the IRS requires in a mileage log

A plain-English checklist based on IRS Publication 463, chapter 5 (Recordkeeping). Not tax advice; your tax professional has the final word.

For each business drive

The date of the drive
Where you went: the destination, and where you started
The business purpose: who you saw or what you did
The miles for that drive

For the year

Your business miles in total
Your total miles for the car, business and personal, so the business share is clear (odometer readings at the start and end of the year do this)

"Timely kept"

Publication 463 gives the most weight to records made at or near the time of the drive. You don't have to write it down the moment you park; a log kept up weekly counts as timely. A log rebuilt from memory at tax time is the weakest kind of record.

Partial-year records

In some cases a record kept for part of the year can support the whole year, if you can show that part is typical of the rest. It is the exception, not the plan.

How long to keep it

Generally at least three years after you file the return, and longer in some situations. See the IRS page on how long to keep records.

Sources

Steadymile keeps every element

Date and time, recorded as you drive
Start and destination, from the phone's location
Purpose, added with a swipe and a note
Route miles, measured along the road
Every edit stamped with its time, so the log shows it was kept as you went
Year totals on the report

See a sample report

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