Driving from my home to a conference and back

The cost of driving from your home to a conference and back is deductible if the conference is directly related to your business and you are traveling away from your tax home. This is considered a business travel expense. However, if you are driving to a conference within your metropolitan area and it is considered commuting, it may not be deductible. For example, if you are a freelancer attending a conference in another city, the mileage is deductible. However, if the conference is in your local area and you regularly work from a home office, you may need to demonstrate that the trip is not just a commute. The IRS allows you to deduct either the actual expenses or the standard mileage rate for business travel. As of 2023, the standard mileage rate is 65.5 cents per mile.