# Another IRS Deduction Question
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-irs-deduction-question/154688
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 12, 2003, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-irs-deduction-question/154688 "2003-02-12T22:58:43Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Photog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Photog)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2003, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-irs-deduction-question/154688/1 "2003-02-12T22:58:43Z")
I didn’t want to Hijack **Cleric** ’s [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=162625) so…
This got me to thinking…
> [@](#):
>
> IANATaxProfessional, but here’s what the IRS says:
> Two places of work. If you work at two places in one day, whether or not for the same employer, you can deduct the expense of getting from one workplace to the other.
I work for an employer that occupies several buildings within the same city. Because of the nature of my job, I have two offices, in two different buildings. On average, I probably travel between these two buildings 4 times a day. The distance between the two is less than a mile. But, does the above mean that I am entitled to a tax deduction, however small it may be, for the mileage?
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### Author:  [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2003, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-irs-deduction-question/154688/2 "2003-02-12T23:21:15Z")
IAANAA (I also am not an accountant), but no.
We were told explicitly that we would not be reimbursed for mileage between buildings, on the grounds that it would not be deductible for the company. I therefore assume it would not be deductible for you. It’s still the cost of going to work, which is not deductible.
Unless the buildings are more than (I forget, 50?) miles apart.
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### Author:  [@drpepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drpepper)
#### Post date: [February 13, 2003, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-irs-deduction-question/154688/3 "2003-02-13T02:23:20Z")
Gee, the one area of GQ where I can share some expertise and it’s something as dry as taxes.
Well, **Photog** , there’s good news and bad news.
Good news, yes, technically your mileage between the two buildings is “deductible” as an unreimbursed employee expense. Bad news, in practice you probably will not be able to take it unless you meet several criteria:
(1) You itemize deductions rather than use the standard deduction (if you are making mortgage payments on your house, you probably itemize). If not, no deduction.
(2) The mileage, added to a few other minor items such as tax preparation fees for the prior year, add up to a substantial amount. For most people, this is probably not the case.
And as **C K Dex** would rightly point out, consult your tax advisor.
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### Author:  [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)
#### Post date: [February 13, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-irs-deduction-question/154688/4 "2003-02-13T03:16:18Z")
With respect to **drpepper** ’s point #2, here is his more detailed comment in the linked thread:
> [@](#):
>
> such unreimbursed mileage…will _only_ be deductible if:
>
> (1) you are itemizing deductions … AND
> (2) this mileage plus a few other minor items like tax preparation fees adds up to more than 2% of your income, [the whole ball of wax will only benefit you to the extent these items _exceed_ the 2%… so this will not give you as big of a tax benefit as you might think]; if it doesn’t, the whole mileage deduction thing won’t help you at all…
Even among those of us who deduct, few top the 2% mark in this catchall category. It seems to be a sneaky way for Congress to give deductions, without actually giving back any _money_.
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### Author:  [@drpepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drpepper)
#### Post date: [February 13, 2003, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-irs-deduction-question/154688/5 "2003-02-13T03:22:48Z")
Exactly, **RT**. On this particular item, it’s a “deduction” but few can take it. Isn’t that a stinker?