Tips and Tutorials

Tips & Tutorials for the busy business owner on the go.
Don’t have time to read this tutorial? Then download the podcast and take it on the road with you.

Listen to Tracking Vehicle Mileage.

Track vehicle mileage and bill your customers.
Now you can track your business vehicle mileage in QuickBooks. Record all of your business-related trips so you have a mileage record for your taxes. You can also assign trips to a specific customer job so that you can bill that customer for the mileage

Tracking vehicle mileage
Why should I track vehicle mileage?
See post about IRS Increase Mileage Rate

QuickBooks can track mileage for your business vehicles. You can use the mileage information for tax deductions for your vehicles, and to bill customers for mileage expenses. You cannot use vehicle mileage tracking to reimburse your employees for mileage.

Adding a vehicle to track its mileage
To track mileage for a vehicle, you must add it to the Vehicle list.

If you already have the Enter Vehicle Mileage window open, you can QuickAdd a vehicle by clicking “Add New” on the Vehicle dropdown list.

To add a vehicle to the Vehicle list
From the Company menu, choose Enter Vehicle Mileage.

In the Enter Vehicle Mileage window, click Vehicle List (on the toolbar).

From the Vehicle menu, choose New.

In the New Vehicle window, enter a name for the vehicle and an optional description.

The vehicle name might be the model and year of the car, the license number, or a specific number that you’ve given to a vehicle.

Click OK.

Keep your mileage rates up-to-date so you can always take advantage of the latest IRS deduction rates for your business vehicles. QuickBooks calculates the appropriate mileage expense based on the dates and rates you enter in the Mileage Rates window. Check regularly with the IRS for the latest rates and enter each date and rate change as it becomes effective.

From the Company menu, choose Enter Vehicle Mileage.

On the toolbar in the Enter Vehicle Mileage window, click Mileage Rates.

In the Mileage Rates window, select a date from the calendar for the Effective Date, then press Tab.

Enter the IRS rate for that date, then click Close.

Track vehicle mileage and bill your customers
Now you can track your business vehicle mileage in QuickBooks. Record all of your business-related trips so you have a mileage record for your taxes. You can also assign trips to a specific customer:job so that you can bill that customer for the mileage