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How to Use Your MileIQ Reports Like a Pro (and Make Your Tax Professional Love You)
- Joseph Mandracchia
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
You’ve done the work — tracked your miles, classified your trips, and exported your report. But now you’re staring at that spreadsheet thinking, “Okay… now what?”
That’s where most people stop. They think tracking their miles is the finish line when, in reality, it’s just the starting point for saving money at tax time. The truth is, your mileage report is one of the most powerful tools in your business toolbox — if you know how to use it correctly.
So in this article, We are talking about:
How to make your MileIQ reports work for you, your business, and your tax professional
How it ACTUALLY is for tax professionals during tax season and beyond
Everything in between!
Disclaimer: The content of this article does not contain and is never intended to be legal, business, financial, tax, or health advice of any kind, This article is for entertainment purposes only. It is advised that you conduct your own research and consult with qualified professionals before applying anything you find online.
I also want to be clear that everything we are going to go over is very market dependent, and what applies to me and my market may not apply to you.
Know What’s in Your Report
Before you send anything, take a moment to understand what you’re looking at. Your exported file isn’t just a list of drives — it’s a story of your work on the road. Each trip includes details like date, distance, purpose, and category. The summary page adds everything up, showing the total number of business miles and their tax-deductible value.
This is where MileIQ really shines. You can choose to export only your business miles as a separate report — which is exactly what your tax professional wants to see. Sending that cleaner, business-only report keeps things organized and prevents confusion about which trips count as deductions. Think of it like this: your tax pro doesn’t need your whole book, just the chapters that matter.
You don’t need to send every line to your tax professional — that’s overkill. What they actually care about is that summary: how many business miles you drove, and the total deduction amount. The more you simplify it for them, the less time (and billable hours) they spend sorting it all out.
Understand How MileIQ Is Your Proof
A lot of drivers assume they’ll be fine as long as they have their tax forms — but that’s not how the IRS sees it. Your 1099s and Schedule C show what you claimed, not how you justified it. To truly back up your deductions, you need contemporaneous records — detailed logs that show when, where, and why you drove for business.
This is exactly what MileIQ was built for. Every trip is timestamped, location-verified, and stored automatically in the background. You don’t have to write anything down or remember each drive — your app is doing that work for you. And because those logs are created in real time, they count as reasonable substantiation if your deductions are ever questioned.
If you want to strengthen your documentation even further, you can add quick notes in the app — like which client, route, or delivery platform each trip was for. Those little context details aren’t required, but they add credibility and make your records nearly audit-proof.
Communicate with Your Tax Professional
One of the biggest mistakes people make is waiting until March to drop off their reports. The way you deliver your information matters just as much as what you deliver. Sending your reports ahead of time gives your tax professional breathing room and helps them identify anything unusual before it becomes a problem.
Ask your tax pro what format they prefer — PDF, spreadsheet, or upload through their portal. Also, clarify your business-use percentage if your car doubles as a personal vehicle. And don’t hesitate to ask, “What can I do next year to make this easier for both of us?” That kind of proactive communication doesn’t just save time — it can save money.
Also, don’t be afraid to ask if it makes sense to file as an S-Corp, form an LLC, or continue operating as a sole proprietor — especially if you’re planning on using gig work as a stepping stone toward building a larger business. Having that conversation early helps align your tax strategy with your long-term goals instead of treating gig work like a permanent stop.
Review for Missed Deductions
Your mileage report isn’t just about the distance you drive — it’s a framework for identifying other potential deductions. If you’re logging trips for food deliveries, courier work, or on-site services, chances are you’re also paying for maintenance, equipment, and phone usage. Those costs add up and can be deductible, depending on how your business is structured.
When you hand your mileage report to your tax professional, that’s the perfect time to review your other business expenses. If you’re juggling multiple 1099s, or if your preparer charges extra for each one, it’s worth finding someone who specializes in gig workers. GigTax, for example, works specifically with independent contractors and understands how to streamline those filings without charging you an arm and a leg.
Whether you’re a rideshare driver, do food delivery, or any other self employed work, your time is too valuable to waste on tax prep. So while you keep hustling, GigTax can help you save big!
GigTax was founded by Joseph Mayo, a seasoned Gig Worker with over 7000 deliveries across 7 platforms since 2020, and they understand the challenges of freelancers, rideshare drivers, couriers, online sellers and gig workers of all kinds!
Their #1 Online Tax Preparation service is designed to maximize your tax savings and save you time, energy and money!
Enjoy exclusive discounts on tax prep services as well as a range of additional benefits such as:
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State Filing
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If you are ready to keep more of what you earn, check out drivenwyld.com/gigtax to book your strategy session and learn more about how GigTax can help you simplify and save on your taxes today!
Make Consistency Work for Your Schedule
Consistency doesn’t always mean having a strict schedule — it means staying reliable in how you track your work. If your version of consistency is being on-call and taking orders as they come, that’s perfectly fine. The key is to make sure your documentation stays steady even when your hours don’t.
Instead of waiting until the end of the year, try exporting your reports monthly or quarterly. This makes it easier to spot trends — like how many miles you drive for each app or which routes are costing you the most in gas. And with MileIQ running automatically, you don’t have to remember every spontaneous trip or jot down notes during a busy shift. It keeps your record accurate no matter how unpredictable your work hours might be.
Consistency in record-keeping also helps your tax professional. Many prefer to check in quarterly anyway, and handing them clean, current data makes their job smoother and keeps you better prepared if your income or business model shifts. It’s also a good way to catch errors early, like trips that should have been classified differently.
Final Thoughts
MileIQ isn’t just about tracking your miles — it’s about making your life (and your tax professional’s life) easier. Clean reports mean fewer questions, faster filing, and better accuracy across the board.
You did the miles — now make those miles work for you. A few small steps throughout the year can save you hundreds, if not thousands, at tax time. Whether you’re a gig worker, courier, or small business owner, using your reports strategically keeps your finances tight and your operations stress-free.
If you would like to add some other perspective to using your Tax Reports like a pro, feel free to email me: drivenwyld@gmail.com and who knows? Maybe your email or perspective and be featured in a post as well!
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