IRS Announces 2009 Standard Mileage Rates

Beginning Jan. 1, 2009, the Internal Revenue Service standard mileage rates for the use of a car (including vans and pickups) will be:

• 55 cents per mile for business miles driven (down from 58.5 cents).
• 24 cents per mile driven for moving purposes (down from 27 cents).

The IRS announcement explains the basis for the rates.

The standard mileage rate for business is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile. The rate for moving purposes is based on the variable costs as determined by the same study. Independent contractor Runzheimer International conducted the study.

The State of Texas will match the decrease for travel beginning Jan. 1, 2009. Their announcement is found at https://fmx.cpa.state.tx.us/fm/travel/milerate/index.php.

The University of Texas at Austin will match these decreases for all mileage occurring on or after Jan. 1, 2009. Please direct all questions to Marcia Boling, oa.mboling@austin.utexas.edu or 471-7821, or Cynthia Roberts, oa.croberts@austinutexas.edu or 475-7144.