IRS Raises Mileage Rate to Reflect Gas Prices

The Internal Revenue Service, citing the drain that high gas prices are having on people's finances, said yesterday that it is raising the automobile mileage rate that businesses and others can claim.

The agency said the optional standard rate to calculate deductible operating costs for business vehicles will rise from 50.5 cents to 58.5 cents a mile for the final six months of 2008.

That rate also applies to businesses and others entitled to depreciation allowances that operate automobiles for charitable, medical or moving purposes.

"Rising gas prices are having a major impact on individual Americans," IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said. "Given the increase in prices, the IRS is adjusting the standard mileage rates to better reflect the real cost of operating an automobile."

Shulman, in an interview, said the agency has been keeping an eye on gas prices since 2005, when there was a spike in prices after Hurricane Katrina. He said officials wanted to get the guidance out on the new rate so that businesses can do midyear adjustments July 1.

The IRS said it was also changing the rate for computing deductible medical or moving expenses from 19 cents to 27 cents a mile for the final six months of the year. That applies to individuals not entitled to depreciation allowances.

Congress must enact legislation to change the rate for providing services for charitable organizations, so that will stay at 14 cents a mile.

The IRS normally updates the mileage rates once a year in the fall for the next calendar year.