Charitable Miles Calculator
Enter the miles you drove for charity and any parking or tolls. The calculator applies the statutory volunteer rate - 14 cents a mile, a figure the IRS has frozen for years - and adds your out-of-pocket costs.
The honest framing: this deduction is modest, rides on itemizing like all charitable giving, and only counts for qualified 501(c)(3) organizations. Your commute to a regular volunteer shift does not count; the dated log written the same week is what survives an audit.
How to use
- Tally the year volunteer driving from your calendar or log.
- Add parking and tolls paid while volunteering.
- Keep the log current - reconstructed mileage is the audit classic.
Frequently asked questions
What is the IRS mileage rate for charity work?
14 cents per mile - fixed by statute for years while business rates float upward annually. It is deliberately modest; the deduction also requires itemizing, like the rest of charitable giving.
Does driving to volunteer count?
Miles driven in service of the charity count - delivering meals, hauling supplies. Your ordinary commute to a regular volunteer location does not, and neither does any route with a personal detour priced in.
What records do I need for charitable miles?
A dated written log: date, destination, purpose, miles. Reconstructed logs are the classic audit failure; a note on your phone the same week converts to a defensible record at tax time.
Can I deduct volunteer out-of-pocket costs?
Yes - parking, tolls and unbought supplies for the charity add on top of mileage. Uniform costs count too; the value of your time famously never does.