The Internal Revenue Service has announced the optional standard mileage rates for computing the deductible cost of operating an automobile for business, medical, and moving expenses for 2020, and the decrease in rates reflect the decrease in the fixed and variable costs of operating a vehicle.  Effective January 1, 2020, the optional standard mileage rates will decrease to 57.5 cents per mile for business transportation, and decrease to 17 cents per mile for travel relating to medical transportation expenses.

These mileage rates apply only to those expenses incurred or paid by a taxpayer on or after January 1, 2020 (and if reimbursed by an employer, reimbursed by the employer on and after that date).  Expenses incurred prior to January 1, 2020 (whether reimbursed by the employer before or after that date) are still subject to the old 2019 rates (58 cents for business transportation, 20 cents for medical transportation). The standard mileage rate for the deduction for use of an automobile in rendering volunteer services to a charitable organization remains unchanged from 2019 at 14 cents per mile.

This change in mileage rates is relevant to employers that reimburse employees for business transportation based on mileage. While there is no legal requirement that employees be reimbursed at the IRS standard rate, many employers have a policy of doing so.  Even though the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminated the ability of taxpayers to claim a miscellaneous itemized deduction for unreimbursed employee travel expenses, the income tax exclusion for employees if such expenses are reimbursed was retained.  As a reminder, any payments to an employee based on business travel at a rate in excess of the IRS standard rate generally is taxable income to the employee.