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Rainmaker
1,666,213
Gary Frimann, CRS, GRI, SRES
Eagle Ridge Realty / Signature Homes & Estates - Gilroy, CA
REALTOR and Broker, Notary

Every year I buy a mileage log book from Staples and record there.  I keep it in my car.  I just record the business miles and medical (if any) and subtract 01/01/xx from 12/31/xx of the year to get my toal miles, then subtract out business miles.  My understanding is that the IRS catches people when audited the log is done using the same pen/pencil.  Also, there is an app or 2) but I've never used that.

Dec 21, 2024 07:36 PM
Rainmaker
964,069
Bruce Walter
Keller Williams Realty Lafayette/West Lafayette, Indiana - West Lafayette, IN

Fred, I keep a log book in our vehicles and record the mileage for our real estate business including purpose and location and hours involved. This essential info is then transferred into our business journal where I elaborate in greater detail.  With showings I make a folder in my email and and move the showing confirmation and feedback emails over to the showings folder for an extra layer of documentation.  The log journal recording comes in very handy for documenting the hours concerning our investment properties as the IRS requires a safe harbor of 250 hours to justify claiming the 20% business deduction that is soon expiring if the 2017 TCJA is not permanently extended this year.

Dec 21, 2024 07:14 AM
Rainmaker
704,720
Steffy Hristova
HomeSmart Elite Group Tempe AZ Tel: 602.710.8161 - Tempe, AZ
Tempe AZ Realtor - Your Home Close to Your Work!

Hi Fred, I have a log book in my car, and record the destination and miles by hand. At tax time TurboTax tells me which is better to take - the standard mileage deduction or the itemized one. Usually, the itemized is higher for me. Similarly to Bruce Walter , when I am doing a cost accounting for a transaction, I use the data from the log. I still think it's faster for me to write the miles by hand than use an app. 

Dec 21, 2024 07:34 AM
Rainmaker
523,830
Matthew Sturkie, CRS, GRI 909-969-3805
Action Realty - Apple Valley, CA
CRS, GRI 909-969-3805

I have a notebook in my car and write down the miles.

Dec 21, 2024 08:42 AM
Rainmaker
1,476,681
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

I take my actual expenses for business driving as a tax expense (deduction). I keep track using the car odometer and writing it down every day that I drive for busin purposes.

Dec 21, 2024 09:05 AM
Rainmaker
1,638,924
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® CRS,ABR,PSA,RCS-D, CFSP
Big Block LPT Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
Coastal San Diego, Veteran's & Retirees Services

Miles IQ App and my CPA does the rest.

 

Dec 21, 2024 04:16 PM
Ambassador
3,446,856
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

 

Yes, indeed I track my mileage.  I use the best darn app ever created! 

I created a document.  I use a new page each month.  It's called old-school pen and paper, and guess what?  It works! 

My CPAs determine how to apply. 

Dec 21, 2024 02:14 PM
Rainmaker
1,277,202
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

I've always used a daytimer and pen to record my mileage manually Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate I'm to old school and not real trusting of apps...lol

Dec 21, 2024 01:17 PM
Rainmaker
6,051,962
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Fred, I keep a small spiral book in my drivers door and keep track of business miles every time I am out for business.

Dec 21, 2024 07:57 AM
Rainmaker
624,582
Shayne Stone
HomeSmart - Fulshear, TX
"Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED

I used to use an app that connected with my GPS and accounting. In the old days, I just used a notepad.... 

 

Dec 21, 2024 02:47 PM
Ambassador
2,613,734
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I just plugged the numbers into my expenses Excel (now Numbers) worksheet on my computer. At the end of the day, record the mileage.

Dec 21, 2024 09:46 AM
Rainer
425,556
Don Baker
Lane Realty - Eatonton, GA
Lake Sinclair Specialist

I just write it down.  Keep a notebook in the truck for that.

Dec 21, 2024 01:58 PM
Ambassador
2,130,491
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home again, home again...

I don't keep track of that stuff anymore.  After surviving a random audit (with a "no change" result) the cost of the antacids alone just wasn't worth the deduction.

Dec 21, 2024 10:24 AM
Ambassador
6,763,393
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Have always used the mileage deduction, with most of our vehicles being fuel efficient this is best for us.  Also important to keep the company and personal vehicles separate.

Dec 21, 2024 08:18 AM
Ambassador
5,051,149
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I take the deduction and have a notepad in my car that I jot down my business mileage in after I make a business trip.

Dec 22, 2024 04:35 AM
Rainmaker
537,054
Katina Hargrove 352-551-0308
Stake Your Land Realty, Inc. - Eustis, FL
Broker/Owner, SFR®, e-PRO®, GRI, AHWD, REALTOR®

Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate 

I used to use the note and pad, but I would forget and it took time to go back and trace back my goings and comings and where to.  The best app that came out is "Hurdlr" It is part of our MLS, it is the best I have ever used. It simply keeps tracks of all my comings and goings and I simply input business or personal.

Dec 22, 2024 02:33 PM
Rainer
466,076
J.R. Schloemer
Kentucky Select Properties - Louisville, KY

I have a mileage log book that I use to track mileage. I turn it in to the CPA and he does what he does.

Dec 21, 2024 08:14 PM
Rainmaker
796,339
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

I guesstamate using the total mileage and take a little off for personal use.

Dec 21, 2024 03:37 PM
Rainmaker
5,554,814
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

When active kept a notebook in the car. Never graduated to an app.

Dec 22, 2024 04:39 AM
Rainmaker
2,871,457
Richard Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Decades ago, when I had to do this, I hated it plus it was always challenged with me getting less. There must be a better way

Dec 23, 2024 03:07 PM
Rainmaker
2,259,203
Michael J. Perry
Fathom Realty - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

I take the 70 cents . However I rarely ever have a consumer in my car these days . 

Dec 23, 2024 06:34 AM
Rainer
382,833
Adam Feinberg
Elegran - Manhattan, NY
NYC Condo, Co-op, and Townhouse Advisor

Not that it's really relevant to answering the question at hand- but I haven't owned a car in nearly 19 years, and most of the time, walking or subway works for me in this business. I might do the occasional Uber when needed, but it's not frequent. If I have a buyer client wanting to view properties in multiple neighborhoods- we typically cluster the showings by area to minimize travel time. 

Jan 01, 2025 12:15 PM
Ambassador
3,223,182
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I have an app for that.

Dec 28, 2024 12:24 PM
Rainer
424,993
Caroline Gerardo
Licensed in 20 states - Newport Beach, CA
C. G. Barbeau the Loan Lady nmls 324982

I have a ring bound notebook for each year, old school. I keep conversation notes, appointments, start mileage, end mileage.

For a more tech option MileIQ can integrate with your Google Calendar - just subtract out the driving for personal use.

Dec 25, 2024 06:26 AM
Rainmaker
1,657,402
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC • Short Sale • Probate

App for many years, you just need to sort your trips. 

Dec 24, 2024 11:26 PM
Rainmaker
5,281,534
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello and I still keep a small calendar book in my car and write down the mileage.

Dec 23, 2024 09:56 AM
Rainmaker
1,874,898
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Used paper & pen. Tried many apps & they were too cumbersome.

Dec 23, 2024 06:53 AM