Help Center
Find answers to common questions about TaxMiles. The tax rules the app applies are in business miles vs commuting, how to track mileage on iPhone, and the first-week setup.
Browse help by topic
Trip Tracking
How automatic detection works, manual trips, and classification.
Tax Deductions
IRS mileage rates, business categories, and deduction reports.
Reports & Export
Generating IRS-ready PDF/CSV reports and CPA exports.
Account & Settings
Subscription management, data sync, and preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does automatic trip detection work?
TaxMiles uses motion and location signals to notice when you start driving, then records your route in the background. A trip ends automatically after you've been stopped for a few minutes. Battery use varies with drive length, GPS reception and the tracking mode you pick in Settings → Drive Detection → Tracking Mode.
How do I classify a trip as business or personal?
After an auto-detected drive, TaxMiles sends a Trip Recorded notification: press and hold it to choose Business, Personal, Commute, Medical, Charity or Moving. In the Trips tab, swipe a trip right for Business or left for Personal. Settings → Auto-Classify sets defaults such as Work Hours and Trip Rules so more trips sort themselves.
What IRS mileage rate does TaxMiles use?
TaxMiles applies the rate that was in effect on the day each trip was driven — it never stamps today's rate onto older miles. The IRS changed the rate partway through 2026: 72.5¢/mile for January 1 – June 30 and 76¢/mile from July 1. Your 2026 log therefore contains two rates on purpose, and your reports split it for you. More on the mid-year change →
Should I use standard mileage or actual expenses?
Standard mileage — business miles × the IRS rate — usually wins for higher-mileage or cheap-to-run cars. Actual expenses (gas, insurance, registration, repairs, lease, depreciation, prorated by business use) often wins for newer or pricier cars driven fewer miles. With Pro, open Taxes → Tax Toolkit → Compare Methods and TaxMiles works out both from your own data. Note you must pick standard mileage in the first year you use a car for business to keep that option open later.
Can I recover deductions I missed in past years?
Often. You generally have three years from the filing deadline to amend with Form 1040-X. Taxes → Tax Toolkit → Prior Years (Pro) totals what went unclaimed in each prior year and estimates the refund. Build an Audit Packet (also Pro) first so your preparer has the substantiation.
Does TaxMiles work on Apple Watch, CarPlay or Control Center?
Yes to all three. The Watch app starts and stops drives from your wrist and adds complications to your watch face. CarPlay (Pro) puts trip control on your car's screen with live miles and deduction. On iOS 18 you can add a Start Trip control to Control Center, and Siri understands "Start a trip in TaxMiles."
What is the Audit Packet?
Taxes → Tax Toolkit → Audit Packet gathers your mileage log, audit certificate, odometer photos and receipt images into a single dated folder with a README explaining each file, then zips it so you can email or AirDrop it in one piece. It is part of Pro, like every export. Worth building once a year when you file.
Can W-2 employees deduct mileage?
Not federally — that deduction has been suspended since 2018. But several states never adopted the suspension, so your miles may still count on your state return. Taxes → Tax Toolkit → State Rules shows where your state stands. Self-employed workers are unaffected.
How do I export my mileage report?
On the Taxes tab, tap "Export All Trips & Transactions" (or use Add → Export). Choose PDF or CSV format and select your date range. Exports, including CPA-ready packages, are part of Pro. On the free plan you still see every trip and your totals in the app.
Can I cancel my subscription?
Yes. Go to Settings → Manage Subscription (or iPhone Settings → your name → Subscriptions). You can cancel anytime and will retain access until the end of your billing period. Your trip data is always yours.