Rental property mileage expenses

[Andrey Y.]

I was wondering if you folks are deducting mileage expenses from driving to and from your rentals, for the purpose of showing the property, placing tenants, and doing repairs. To clarify, this is not with a business 'truck', just with a regular vehicle.

[Rajeev Kotyan]

(I am not a CPA and only speak from experience) @Matt Moldenhauer You can deduct all the mileage you want so long as you can justify it and such justification can be upheld in an audit. As @Curt Davis mentioned you can deduct mileage or entire vehicle, not both. For example going to the supermarket to place an advertisement on their bulletin board for your rental is business mileage for driving to place an advertisement, but it would be hard to justify as an expense the cost of the groceries you bought.

@Andrey Y. The question you ask is a very good one, and the best answer can only be provided by you CPA after reviewing your specific situation for the past along with plans for the future, as there could be specific deduction choices that once you make it cannot be reversed in the future unless you get permission from the IRS.