What Is the Mileage Rate for Business Travel?

By Alice Nichols

As businesses increasingly look to cut costs, they are often seeking to understand what the mileage rate for business travel should be. This rate is the amount of money a company pays per mile for their employees to travel for work-related activities. It is an important factor in determining the cost of employee travel and must be carefully considered when budgeting for business trips.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sets guidelines for what the mileage rate should be and it changes from year to year. As of 2021, the IRS has set the standard mileage rate at 56 cents per mile. This is an increase from the 2020 rate of 57.5 cents, making it more expensive for businesses to send their employees on trips.

The IRS also provides additional rates that can be used if a company’s travel needs are different than the standard mileage rate. For example, if a company has high maintenance costs or fuel costs, they can use the actual expense method which allows them to claim a higher reimbursement rate based on their actual expenses. The IRS also allows companies to use a lower mileage rate of 14 cents if they meet certain criteria such as using public transportation or carpooling.

In summary, understanding what the mileage rate for business travel should be is essential for companies that are looking to cut costs and manage employee travel expenses effectively. The IRS sets guidelines for this, but businesses can also use additional rates if their needs are different than the standard mileage rate. The current 2021 standard mileage rate is 56 cents per mile.

Conclusion: The current 2021 mileage rate for business travel as set by the IRS is 56 cents per mile. Businesses can also use additional rates if their needs are different than the standard mileage rate and should consider these when budgeting for employee travel expenses.