Help · Mileage

Record business trips and mileage

You can record a drive hands-free on iPhone or add a trip by hand. Either way, a few details turn a trip into a mileage log entry the IRS will accept.

Updated

In short

  • On iPhone, start a trip and lock your phone. spentr records the route in the background.
  • A Live Activity shows distance and the deduction on your Lock Screen while you drive.
  • Free includes 3 GPS-recorded trips a month; Pro is unlimited. Manual trips are free on every plan.
  • Add a business purpose to every trip. It’s the detail people most often skip.

Record a drive on iPhone

  1. Open spentr and start a trip before you drive.
  2. If iOS asks for location access, allow it so spentr can keep recording while the phone is locked.
  3. Drive as usual. The Live Activity on your Lock Screen shows the running distance and deduction.
  4. Stop the trip when you arrive. It’s saved with the date, route, and miles.
  5. Add the business purpose and choose the business and vehicle if you have more than one.

Add a trip by hand

For a drive you forgot to record, add it manually in the iPhone app or on the web Logbook. Enter the date, start and destination, miles, and purpose. Add it the same day if you can: a log kept at the time is much stronger than one rebuilt later.

What makes a trip log-ready

  • Date — recorded automatically.
  • Where you went — the route and destination are saved for recorded trips.
  • Business purpose — “Client site visit, Smith remodel” beats “business”.
  • Miles — measured for recorded trips, entered for manual ones.

Commutes between home and a regular workplace aren’t deductible, even if you record them. Our mileage log guide explains which drives count.

Frequently asked questions

Does recording drain my battery?

Recording uses GPS only during a trip you’ve started, and stops when you end it.

What rate does spentr use?

Trips are valued at the IRS standard mileage rate. For 2026 that’s 72.5¢ before July 1 and 76¢ from July 1.

Can I record trips on Android?

Not yet. Android is coming soon. You can add trips by hand on the web in the meantime.

Still stuck? Email support@zioty.io and we’ll help.

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.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.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.