Receipts & Mileage

How to track receipts, organize expenses, and log mileage for IRS compliance — guides for 1099 workers.

• 2026-05-20

  EV & Hybrid Mileage Tracking for Freelancers in 2026: Standard $0.725 Rate, Actual Charging Costs, and the §45W Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit

  EV and plug-in hybrid mileage tracking for freelancers in 2026 — the $0.725/mile standard rate applies the same to EVs, when actual expense method beats standard for EV owners, charging-cost substantiation under §274(d), Level-2 home charger as listed property, IRC §280F luxury-vehicle depreciation caps, the §45W Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit interaction, and a workflow that handles mixed home/public/workplace charging.

• 2026-05-19

  GPS Mileage Tracking Apps & IRS Compliance in 2026: Why Raw GPS Logs Alone Fail (and the Workflow That Survives an Audit)

  Does the IRS accept a GPS mileage tracking app log? Only if it captures all four elements under Treas. Reg. §1.274-5T — date, miles, destination, and business purpose. Learn why raw GPS logs alone fail, how the best swipe-to-classify apps add business purpose, why vehicle expenses get no Cohan-rule relief under IRC §274(d), and the monthly workflow that produces an audit-defensible log at $0.725/mile in 2026.

• 2026-05-18

  Per Diem Method vs Actual Expense for Business Travel: The 2026 Freelancer Guide to GSA Rates and Receipts

  Can a freelancer use the per diem method for business travel? Yes — for meals and incidentals only, never lodging. Learn how the GSA per diem rates work, Rev. Proc. 2019-48 and the IRS annual high-low method, the 50% meals limit under §274(n), receipt rules when per diem is used, and the actual-vs-per-diem decision tree for self-employed taxpayers in 2026.

• 2026-05-17

  Bank Statements vs Receipts: What the IRS Actually Accepts as Business Expense Proof in 2026

  Bank and credit-card statements alone aren't enough for most business expense deductions. Learn what statements prove (amount, date, vendor), what receipts prove (business purpose, itemized goods/services), the IRC §274(d) heightened-substantiation carve-out for meals, travel, vehicle, and listed property, and how to audit-proof your records in 2026.

• 2026-05-16

  IRS Receipt Retention Rules 2026: How Long to Keep Business Receipts (3, 6, 7-Year, and Forever)

  How long do you have to keep business receipts for the IRS? The 3-year, 6-year, and 7-year rules under IRC §6501, what to keep forever, and how digital-only receipt storage works under Rev. Proc. 97-22 — a 2026 guide for freelancers and small-business owners.

• 2026-05-15

  The Cohan Rule and Lost Receipts: How to Deduct Without a Receipt in 2026 (Without Triggering an Audit)

  The Cohan rule lets you claim a reasonable estimate of business expenses when receipts are lost — except for travel, meals, vehicle, and listed property under IRC §274(d). Learn what survives the Cohan rule, what doesn't, and how to reconstruct lost receipts so they hold up in an IRS audit.

• 2026-04-09

  The 2026 IRS Mileage Rate Is $0.725/Mile: How to Track and Deduct It

  The 2026 IRS standard mileage rate is $0.725 per business mile. Learn what qualifies, how to log it correctly, and whether standard or actual expenses wins.

• 2026-03-30

  How to Organize Receipts for Small Business (2026 System That Actually Works)

  Learn a simple system to organize small business receipts that saves hours at tax time. Digital vs physical storage, categorization, retention rules, and audit-proof documentation.

• 2026-03-28

  Best Receipt Scanning Apps for Tax Time (2026)

  Compare the best receipt scanning apps for taxes in 2026. Features, pricing, OCR accuracy, and Schedule C integration for self-employed professionals.

• 2026-03-28

  How to Track Business Mileage for Taxes (IRS Requirements 2026)

  Learn IRS requirements for tracking business mileage. Standard mileage rate, log requirements, deductible vs personal miles, and best tracking methods.

• 2026-03-15

  5 Receipt Mistakes That Cost Freelancers Thousands

  Avoid the most common freelancer receipt mistakes that trigger lost deductions and messy tax seasons. Learn a practical workflow to capture, categorize, and document expenses correctly.

• 2026-03-07

  Best Receipt Scanner for Freelancers and 1099 Workers (2026)

  Compare receipt scanners for freelancers: features, pricing, and tax focus. Find the right tool for your 1099 workflow in 2026.

• 2026-03-03

  AI Receipt Scanner vs Manual Tracking: Receipt Organization for Taxes

  Why manual receipt tracking fails, what AI receipt scanners do, and how to organize receipts for taxes with less effort.