IRS raises standard mileage rates for remainder of 2026

Citing the increase in the cost of fuel, the IRS has set a higher optional standard mileage rate used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business for the remainder of 2026.

Announcement 2026-11 modified Notice 2026-10. It revised the optional standard mileage rates for computing the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, medical, or moving expense purposes and for determining the reimbursed amount of these expenses that is deemed substantiated.

The American Automobile Association reported that the average price for regular gasoline was $2.819 a gallon on Jan. 8, and $3.890 on July 15, an increase of 38%.

The revised standard mileage rates, effective July 1, are: 76 cents per mile for business, an increase from 72.5 cents, and 23.5 cents per mile for medical and moving purposes, up from 20.5 cents per mile for each. The mileage rate that applies to the deduction for charitable contributions is fixed under Sec. 170(i) of the Internal Revenue Code at 14 cents per mile.

All other provisions of Notice 2026-10 remain in effect.

The last midyear adjustment of the standard mileage rate was in 2022.

— To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Martha Waggoner at Martha.Waggoner@aicpa-cima.com.