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Due to escalating gas prices, for the last 6 months of the year 2008, mileage re-imbursement from the IRS for business related trips, jumps 8 cents from 50.5 cents per mile to 58.5 cents per mile.
BUT...
While this helps to supplement the cost of political campaigns hurrying around the country in large convoys to win over our votes, it doesn't help everyday commuters traveling to their place of employment and back.
While there are a growing number of businesses who offer transit passes, vanpools, or other incentives for their employees to reduce their car driving and related expenses...for most full-time employees using their own personal cars, mileage traveled to work and back and the hours spent commuting, are unpaid by their employers and un-reimbursed by the IRS.
We are not advocating the IRS to reimburse all commuters. That would cost billions of dollars that we don't have. For the first time in many years, people are driving less. Driving fatalities have also decreased by thousands. These are not trends that we wish to reverse by subsidizing wasteful and dangerous forms of travel.
Instead, we advocate using the same math as the IRS to figure out how much we are each individually spending out of our own pockets to get to work and back. If the generally conservative IRS claims that one mile costs an average of 58.5 cents, then it must be at LEAST that, once we factor in the updated cost of gasoline, wear and tear, maintenance, insurance, compound interest, etc.
Take Action:
Once you figure out your true cost according to the IRS, not just your cost for gas, ask your employer if they offer any of the following:
- Transit passes for the bus or train
- Carpool or Vanpool programs
- A four day week
- Staggered hours (placing your commute outside of rush hour)
- Telecommuting
If they don't offer any of the above, then it is your queue to spearhead such a program in your workplace. It is your duty and calling.
This post has been inspired by the Planet Green show, Wa$ted. Planet Green would love for you to share any success stories relating to this issue.
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