A few weeks later than has usually been the case, IRS just today released its standard mileage rates for vehicle usage in 2020.  While these rates won’t be used on actual tax returns until more than a year from now, most businesses use the official IRS rates for charging customers and for reimbursing employees; so this is very relevant information for immediate use.

Beginning on January 1, 2020, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

• 57.5 cents per mile driven for business use, down one half of a cent from the rate for 2019,

• 17 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes, down three cents from the rate for 2019, and

• 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations.

IRS Press Release: IRS issues standard mileage rates for 2020

I long ago gave up on ever understanding why IRS and the tax writers in Congress believe that vehicles cost less to operate when used for charity, medical or moving.  Like many aspects of tax law, we just have to accept it as gospel because our Rulers in DC consider themselves to be so much wiser than we “normal” little people are.