Trip Logbook helps U.S. users keep accurate, consistent, and IRS compliant mileage logs with odometer‑based tracking, GPS automation, and audit‑ready exports.
The IRS doesn’t “approve” specific apps. It requires you to keep certain information about each business trip. If your mileage log includes these details and is consistent over time, it can be used to support your deduction.
A mileage log that can stand up to an IRS review typically needs:
Trip Logbook is designed around these fields so your records stay consistent, structured, and easy to verify.
Instead of manually rebuilding trips in a spreadsheet, Trip Logbook helps you record:
Because odometer values are central to the app, your mileage history stays internally consistent—reducing the risk of messy, conflicting records.
Trip Logbook was originally designed to satisfy the extremely detailed logbook requirements of the South African Revenue Service (SARS). Those standards are stricter than typical IRS mileage rules, which means U.S. users benefit from a more disciplined, audit‑friendly structure.
If your log can satisfy SARS‑style recordkeeping, it’s more than robust enough for typical IRS expectations. You’re not just tracking “enough” data — you’re tracking it in a clear, structured way.
Trip Logbook exports your mileage history to PDF and CSV, ready for:
Each export includes the fields you need: dates, odometer values, purpose, locations, and trip totals.
The IRS updates its standard mileage rates each year to reflect the cost of operating a vehicle. These rates determine how much taxpayers can deduct—or be reimbursed—for qualifying miles. Trip Logbook keeps your records structured and audit‑ready, so applying these rates is simple and accurate.
Here are the most recent IRS standard mileage rates:
The IRS allows taxpayers to calculate deductible vehicle expenses using either the standard mileage method or the actual expense method. Most people choose the standard mileage method because it’s simple, predictable, and requires clean, well‑structured logs.
Trip Logbook ensures you always have the required IRS‑compliant fields: dates, odometer readings, purpose, locations, and total miles. When tax season arrives, your records are already organized and ready for your accountant or tax software.
Prefer to work in a spreadsheet or on paper? You can use these templates with or without the app. They follow the same field structure used in Trip Logbook exports.
A flexible workbook for tracking business mileage in Microsoft Excel.
Download Excel templateA printable mileage log for glove‑box or office use.
Download PDF templateYou can track IRS‑compliant mileage with paper or spreadsheets, but it’s easy to fall behind or miss key details. Trip Logbook keeps the same level of detail with far less friction.
Common questions U.S. users ask when they switch from spreadsheets to structured mileage tracking.
Yes. The IRS cares about the completeness and consistency of your records, not the specific tool. An Excel log can be compliant as long as it includes the required fields and is updated reliably.
Yes. Beginning and ending odometer readings help verify your total mileage and make your log more defensible in an audit. Trip Logbook uses odometer values as a core part of your history.
Yes. What matters is that the information is accurate, consistent, and complete. Trip Logbook structures your data so it can be exported and reviewed like any other mileage log.
The IRS expects contemporaneous mileage records, not rough reconstructions done months later. Using an app during the year removes the stress of rebuilding your travel history from memory.
Only the business portion of your mileage is deductible. Trip Logbook lets you classify trips as Business or Personal so you can clearly separate deductible mileage from non‑deductible driving.