2012 standard mileage rates

The Internal Revenue Service has issued the 2012 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical, or moving purposes. 

Beginning January 1, 2012, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups, or panel trucks) will be: 

• 55.5 cents per mile for business miles driven (includes a 23 cents per mile allocation for depreciation);
• 23 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes; and
• 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations.

The new rate for business miles is the same as the rate for the second half of 2011, while the rate for medical and moving miles is down a half-cent from the July through December 2011 rate. 

The standard mileage rates for business, medical, and moving uses are based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile that is conducted by an independent contractor for the IRS. 

A taxpayer may not use the business standard mileage rate for a vehicle after using any depreciation method under the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) or after claiming a Section 179 deduction for that vehicle. In addition, the business standard mileage rate cannot be used for more than four vehicles used simultaneously (i.e., a fleet). 

Taxpayers always have the option of calculating the actual costs of using their vehicle rather than using the standard mileage rates.