Mileage tracker for delivery drivers: what the IRS lets you deduct
A mileage tracker is an app that logs the business miles you drive so you can deduct them at tax time. A delivery driver can deduct business miles, including miles driven while on an order and off-app trips for work, such as supply runs and driving between the areas you work in. The deduction only holds up if each trip is logged. For 2026 the IRS business standard mileage rate is 72.5 cents per mile from January through June and 76 cents per mile from July through December, according to the IRS standard mileage rates page.
Which delivery miles count as business miles?
Miles you drive while working an order count, from pickup to drop-off, and so does the driving you do between orders during a shift. Off-app trips count when they serve the work, such as a run to buy insulated bags or a phone mount for your dashboard. Whether a specific errand qualifies depends on the facts, so write down the purpose at the time you drive. Fuel stops are the gray area, and a tax preparer is the right person to ask before you deduct one.
What is the 2026 IRS mileage rate for drivers?
The IRS can change the business rate mid-year, as it did in 2026, so the rate depends on when you drove the miles. A full-year log needs dates for that reason.
| Period in 2026 | Business rate per mile |
|---|---|
| January 1 through June 30 | 72.5 cents |
| July 1 through December 31 | 76 cents |
The IRS's January announcement set the business rate at 72.5 cents, up 2.5 cents from 2025. The IRS standard mileage rates page also lists 76 cents for July through December, so use that page when you file.
Does the drive from home to my first order count?
Usually not. IRS Publication 463 treats travel between your home and a regular work location as commuting, and commuting is personal. Some drivers have a home that qualifies as their principal place of business, and that changes the answer, so ask a tax preparer before you deduct that leg. This paragraph paraphrases the publication, so read its commuting section yourself before you rely on it.
Which trips should a delivery driver log?
Each trip needs a line in your log. The table below sorts the common trips a driver takes into what usually counts and what to write down.
| Trip | Usually counts? | What to write down |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup to drop-off on an order | Yes | Date, miles, store or restaurant, "delivery" |
| Driving between order areas during a shift | Yes | Date, miles, start and end area, "driving between orders" |
| Supply run for bags, a mount, or cleaning supplies | Yes | Date, miles, store, the item bought, "supplies" |
| Home to your first order | Usually no | Note it, and confirm the treatment with a tax preparer |
| Fuel stop | Ask a tax preparer | Date, miles, station, and why you stopped |
Keep the log in one place and fill it in on the same day. A notes app, a spreadsheet, or a tracker all work. A log you rebuild once a month from memory is hard to defend, and a single yearly mileage total with no trip details gives you nothing to point to.
What does a mileage log need to show?
IRS Publication 463 expects each trip to show the date, the miles driven, the destination, and the business purpose. An account book, diary, or log works if you keep it at or near the time of each trip. An app is simply a faster way to make that record. Without a log, the deduction is hard to defend if the IRS asks, because the miles themselves are the evidence.
What does a logged mile save a delivery driver?
Take a driver who logs 14,000 business miles in 2026, with 7,000 miles in each half of the year. The deduction for the first half is 7,000 times $0.725, or $5,075. The second half is 7,000 times $0.76, or $5,320. The total is $10,395.
If that same driver used the January rate for the whole year, the total would be $10,150, which is $245 less. The deduction lowers the income you pay tax on. It does not cut your tax bill dollar for dollar, so the savings depend on your bracket and self-employment tax.
How does a mileage tracker fit in?
A tracker records each trip as it happens, which beats rebuilding a month of drives from memory. My own app, NoTipper, is built for delivery drivers and covers trip time, mileage, gas estimates, and tax-ready exports. I wrote it, so check its log against the IRS rules yourself, the same as you would with any other tool. I wrote more about myself on the about page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 2026 IRS mileage rate for business driving?
72.5 cents per mile from January 1 through June 30, 2026, and 76 cents per mile from July 1 through December 31, 2026, according to the IRS standard mileage rates page.
Can a delivery driver deduct miles driven while on an order?
Yes. Miles from pickup to drop-off while working an order are business miles, as long as you log the date, miles, destination, and business purpose for each trip.
Is the drive from home to my first order deductible?
Usually not. IRS Publication 463 treats travel between home and a regular work location as commuting. Whether your home counts as your principal place of business can change that, so confirm with a tax preparer.
Can I use a notebook instead of a mileage tracker app?
Yes. IRS Publication 463 accepts an account book, diary, log, or similar record, kept at or near the time of each trip and including the required details.