Every mile you drive to a job site is a tax deduction you might be leaving on the table.

Contractors drive more than almost any other self-employed worker — qualifying visits, site measurements, supply runs, follow-up calls. Every business mile is deductible. This guide covers how to track them automatically, what the IRS requires, and how to know which miles were actually worth driving.

67¢IRS standard mileage rate per mile in 2026

$204+saved per year vs typical contractor app stack

100%local — all data on your device, no account

The Problem

Most contractors track mileage. Almost none know which miles were worth it.

MileIQ and Everlance log every drive. They tell you how far you went. They cannot tell you that the 45-minute drive to the Henderson estimate was a waste of time — that the lead was never serious. Mileage tracking without job context is just a number. Lead Score connects every trip to the lead it was for.

What the IRS Requires

IRS-compliant mileage records need date, distance, and business purpose.

The IRS requires a contemporaneous record of business mileage — meaning you need to log it at the time, not reconstruct it at tax season. Lead Score's automatic GPS tracking logs every business drive in the background and exports an IRS-compliant CSV with date, distance, addresses, and the lead each trip was for.

Beyond Mileage

Expenses, receipts, and deductions in one place.

Mileage is the biggest deduction most contractors miss, but it's not the only one. Materials, tools, phone bills, software subscriptions — every business expense reduces your tax bill. Lead Score tracks expenses alongside mileage, linked to the jobs they came from.

The Insight

Which miles made you money. Which ones didn't.

After a month of tracking, your Lead Score dashboard shows total miles driven to qualify leads, miles driven to Bad Fit leads, and miles driven to leads you actually won. That wasted mileage number changes how aggressively you qualify before you turn the key. It's a business insight no mileage-only app can provide.

In this Mileage & Tax Deductions guide

Everything covered in this guide

How to Track Mileage for Contractor TaxesStep-by-step guide to IRS-compliant mileage tracking for self-employed contractors.Read →Contractor Mileage Deduction Guide 2026Every mileage deduction contractors qualify for, what the IRS requires, and how to maximize the deduction.Read →IRS Mileage Rate 2026 for ContractorsThe current IRS standard mileage rate and how to calculate your deduction per trip.Read →How to Track Business Mileage on iPhoneSetting up automatic GPS mileage tracking on iPhone — Lead Score vs MileIQ vs manual logging.Read →Contractor Tax Deductions AppThe best app for tracking all contractor tax deductions — mileage, materials, tools, and subscriptions.Read →How to Log Business Expenses as a ContractorThe practical guide to expense logging that satisfies the IRS without eating your evenings.Read →Best Receipt Tracking App for ContractorsHow to digitize and organize receipts so tax season takes hours, not days.Read →

FAQ

Common questions about mileage & tax deductions

What is the IRS mileage rate for contractors in 2026?×

The IRS standard mileage rate for 2026 is 67 cents per mile for business use. Every business mile you drive — to job sites, supply stores, client meetings — reduces your taxable income by 67 cents.

Do I need a separate mileage app if I use Lead Score?+

No. Lead Score includes automatic GPS mileage tracking that works the same way as MileIQ or Everlance — background detection, one-tap confirmation, IRS-compliant CSV export. The difference is every trip links to a specific lead.

What records does the IRS require for mileage deductions?+

The IRS requires a contemporaneous log showing date, starting and ending location, miles driven, and business purpose. Lead Score's automatic tracking captures all of these and exports them in a format your accountant can use directly.

Can I deduct miles to a job I didn't win?+

Yes. Any drive for a legitimate business purpose is deductible — including qualifying visits to leads that didn't convert. The IRS cares about business purpose, not whether the job closed.

Should I use actual expenses or standard mileage rate?+

Most contractors benefit more from the standard mileage rate because it's simpler and often produces a larger deduction than tracking actual vehicle expenses. Consult a tax professional to confirm which method is better for your situation.

Track every mile. Know which ones made money.

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