2026 IRS Mileage Rate: 72.5¢ Then 76¢ — What the Mid-Year Split Means for Your Deduction

The short version

For 2026, the IRS business standard mileage rate is 72.5 cents per mile for January 1 through June 30 (IRS Notice 2026-10) and 76 cents per mile for July 1 through December 31 (IRS Announcement 2026-11).

If you drive 12,000 business miles evenly across the year, that is 6,000 × $0.725 + 6,000 × $0.76 = $8,910 in deductions. Use a single blended rate and you will be off by hundreds of dollars.

Why the IRS split the year

The standard mileage rate is built from a study of fixed and variable vehicle costs: fuel, maintenance, tires, insurance, depreciation. When those costs move quickly, the IRS occasionally issues a mid-year adjustment. It happened in 2011, 2022, and now 2026.

What changes for you

• Every trip needs a date. Not a month. Not a week. A date, so it lands on the correct side of June 30.
• Two subtotals, not one. Your year-end summary should show Jan–Jun miles and Jul–Dec miles separately.
• Missing trips cost more in the second half. A forgotten 20-mile drive in November is $15.20 gone, not $14.50.

How to apply it correctly

1. Total business miles driven between January 1 and June 30. Multiply by 0.725.
2. Total business miles driven between July 1 and December 31. Multiply by 0.76.
3. Add the two results. That is your 2026 standard mileage deduction.

MileVault's reports apply the split automatically and show both subtotals, so the math on Schedule C is already done.

What the IRS expects in your log

Publication 463 asks for the date, destination, business purpose, and miles for each trip, plus your odometer at the start and end of the year. A verified log that shows exactly that is your best protection if the IRS ever asks questions.

This article is educational and not tax advice. Confirm your situation with a tax professional.