Records that hold up at tax time
Plain-English guides to mileage, receipts, rental hours, and Schedule C for the self-employed, each with its sources linked. Plus a free calculator for the 2026 mileage rate.
Free tools
Free toolMileage deduction calculatorCalculate your 2026 business mileage deduction with both IRS rates (72.5¢ through June 30, 76¢ from July 1), plus 2025 and 2024, and estimate the tax it saves.Free toolQuarterly tax calculatorEstimate your 2026 quarterly tax payments from self-employment income, with 2026 brackets, self-employment tax, and the 90% and 100%/110% safe harbors.Free toolShort-term rental checkerCheck your average guest stay and participation hours against the short-term rental rules: the 7-day test, the 100- and 500-hour tests, and personal use.Free toolHome office calculatorCompare the simplified home office deduction ($5 per square foot, up to $1,500) with the regular method using your home’s actual expenses.Free toolPrintable mileage logA free printable mileage log with every column the IRS expects: date, destination, business purpose, odometer, and miles. Print it or save it as a PDF.
Tax-season guides
GuideIRS mileage rate 2026The 2026 IRS standard mileage rate changed mid-year: 72.5¢ per business mile through June 30 and 76¢ from July 1. How to split your miles and claim it.GuideMileage log requirementsWhat the IRS expects in a business mileage log: dates, destinations, purpose, and miles, recorded at the time. Plus commuting rules and common mistakes.GuideWhich receipts to keepWhich business receipts the IRS expects you to keep, the $75 rule for travel expenses, and how long to hold records: 3, 4, 6, or 7 years and when to keep them longer.GuideAre digital receipts OK?Scanned and photographed receipts are acceptable records when they are accurate, legible, and retrievable. What Rev. Proc. 97-22 asks for and how to store them.GuideShort-term rental loopholeHow the short-term rental tax strategy works: the 7-day average stay rule, material participation tests, and the records you need if the IRS asks.GuideLogging participation hoursThe 100-, 500-, and 750-hour tests explained, what counts as participation, and how to keep an hours log that holds up for short-term rentals and real estate.GuideSchedule C categoriesEvery Schedule C expense line from advertising (line 8) to other expenses (line 27b), with examples of what goes where and the lines people most often get wrong.GuideHome office deductionWho qualifies for the home office deduction, the regular-and-exclusive-use test, and how the $5 per square foot simplified method compares with Form 8829.GuideQuarterly estimated taxesEstimated tax due dates for 2026 (April 15, June 15, September 15, January 15, 2027), who has to pay, and the safe harbors that avoid underpayment penalties.
By profession
Who it’s forReal estate agentsTrack showings, client drives, MLS dues, marketing, and staging costs in one app. spentr scans receipts and records mileage for real estate agents.Who it’s forRideshare & delivery driversRecord every business mile hands-free, keep tolls, parking, and phone costs, and see your deduction grow. Mileage and receipts for rideshare and delivery drivers.Who it’s forContractors & tradesSnap supply-house receipts on site, track job-site miles, and keep tools, materials, and subcontractor costs organized for tax time. Built for contractors.Who it’s forShort-term rental hostsLog material participation hours, scan cleaning and supply receipts, and track trips to your rentals. Records for short-term rental hosts and the STR loophole.Who it’s forFreelancers & consultantsCapture software subscriptions, equipment, client meals, and travel as they happen. spentr keeps freelance receipts and mileage organized for Schedule C.Who it’s forPhotographers & creatorsTrack camera gear, editing software, props, and drives to shoots. spentr organizes receipts and mileage for photographers, videographers, and creators.Who it’s forTherapists & coachesKeep licensing, CE, supervision, office rent, and practice software receipts in one place. Expense and mileage records for private-practice therapists and coaches.Who it’s forHair stylists & beauty prosBooth rent, product, tools, and education add up. spentr keeps receipts and mileage organized for stylists, barbers, nail techs, and estheticians.Who it’s forOwner-operator truckersFuel, repairs, scales, permits, and road meals: keep every receipt from the road organized for tax time. Built for owner-operators and independent drivers.Who it’s forCleaning businessesTrack drives between homes, supplies, equipment, and helpers. spentr keeps receipts and mileage for house cleaning and janitorial businesses.Who it’s forLandscapers & lawn careFuel, plants, mowers, trailer miles, and seasonal crew: keep landscaping and lawn care receipts organized for Schedule C with spentr.Who it’s forEtsy, eBay & online sellersTrack materials, shipping supplies, postage, and platform fees, and import Amazon orders. Receipt tracking for Etsy, eBay, and online sellers.
Comparing apps
CompareQuickBooks Self-Employed alternativeQuickBooks Self-Employed has been replaced by QuickBooks Solopreneur. If you mainly used it for receipts and mileage, here is how spentr compares.CompareMileIQ alternativeLooking for a MileIQ alternative? spentr records business drives and also scans receipts and logs rental hours, with a free plan to start.CompareEverlance alternativeComparing Everlance and spentr for mileage and expense tracking: where each fits, what spentr adds for rental hosts, and how to switch.CompareExpensify alternativeExpensify is built around company expense reports. If you are self-employed and need receipts, mileage, and Schedule C totals, compare spentr.
Using spentr
HelpForward receipts by emailSend emailed receipts to receipts@spentr.app and spentr scans and files them. How to allow extra senders and set up automatic rules in Gmail, Outlook, and iCloud.HelpExport for your accountantCreate a spreadsheet, formatted PDF, audit-ready report with receipt images, or Schedule C tax report from spentr, and what each plan includes.HelpRecord business tripsRecord a drive hands-free on iPhone, add a trip by hand, and make sure every trip has what a mileage log needs.HelpPlans and limitsWhat’s included in spentr Free, Pro, and Business: AI scans, GPS trips, exports, Schedule C categories, and team seats, plus where each plan is billed.
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Receipts, business miles, and rental hours, organized in one place.