# Plain Language Summary: Volunteer Driver Tax Appreciation Act of 2025

Right now, when you volunteer to drive for a charitable organization—like transporting seniors to medical appointments, driving people to a food bank, or shuttling folks to a community center—you can deduct mileage on your taxes at 14 cents per mile. Meanwhile, if you drive for business purposes, the IRS allows you to deduct a much higher rate (currently around 67 cents per mile). This bill closes that gap by letting volunteer drivers use the same higher business mileage rate when they're driving other people or property for charitable organizations.

Here's what this means in practical terms: If you volunteer to drive for a nonprofit and put 1,000 miles on your car doing it, instead of getting a $140 tax deduction (at 14 cents per mile), you'd get roughly $670 (at the business rate). That's a significant difference that could actually make a dent in your tax bill. The bill specifically applies when you're transporting other people or goods on behalf of a qualified charitable organization—not when you're just driving yourself to volunteer.

The change takes effect for the 2025 tax year and beyond. The exact mileage rate will be set by the IRS each year, just like the business mileage rate is, so it will adjust annually for inflation and other factors. This is designed to better recognize and reward people who donate their time and vehicles to help their communities, making volunteering a bit more financially worthwhile for those who use their own cars to do good work.