A mileage log for sales reps

The short answer

If you're a 1099 or independent sales rep, drives to customers and between accounts are usually business miles on Schedule C. If you're an employee, unreimbursed miles generally aren't deductible on a federal return, but the same log is what your employer needs to reimburse you. Either way, record each drive at the time: date, miles, where and why.

Own Miles is a private mileage log for iPhone that records business drives automatically and keeps them on your device. Logging is free with no monthly limit; Pro, with the IRS-ready PDF log, is $29.99 a year after a 14-day trial.

Miles that usually count

• Customer visits, demos and deliveries.
• Driving between accounts on a route.
• Trade shows, training and conferences away from your regular office.
• From a home office that is your main place of business to your first call.

Miles that usually don't

• Driving between home and your regular office.
• Personal stops in the middle of a route.
• Miles your employer already reimbursed under its plan.

The 2026 rate

• 72.5¢ a mile for business drives from January 1 to June 30, 2026
• 76¢ a mile for business drives from July 1 to December 31, 2026

Source: IRS standard mileage rates. Parking fees and tolls for business drives are deductible on top of the rate.

Each drive needs its date, miles, where you went and why, recorded at the time. The full guide covers the rest of the rules from IRS Publication 463.

How Own Miles helps

• Records every drive. Each visit on a route is its own trip, with start and end places, logged without opening the app.
• Rules (Pro). Mark drives as business by hours or by vehicle, such as everything in the company car on weekdays.
• Every vehicle (Pro). Keep a company car and a personal car apart, each with its own odometer readings.
• Reports you can hand in. Yearly totals and the deduction are free in Reports, with CSV export. Pro adds the PDF log with monthly subtotals.

Questions

Can a W-2 sales rep deduct mileage?

Generally not on a federal return; unreimbursed employee expenses aren't deductible for most employees. Ask your employer about mileage reimbursement, and keep a log so you can claim it.

What does my employer need for mileage reimbursement?

Usually the date, miles, place and business purpose of each drive, the same things the IRS asks for. The CSV or PDF export from Own Miles has them.

Does Own Miles share my routes with my employer?

No. Your drives stay on your devices. You choose what to export and who to send it to.