Mileage Bands and FAVR Allowances

Introduction

When it comes to employee reimbursements for using personal vehicles at work, mileage bands play a crucial role in determining fair compensation. These bands establish the range of miles that an employer anticipates an employee will drive, forming the basis for calculating reimbursement amounts. 

In this article, we will delve into the minute details of mileage bands and their influence on reimbursements. In particular, we will emphasize the importance of accurate calculations, as well as factors shaping mileage band determination, regional variations, challenges in implementation, and what the best practices for employers might look like under said conditions. By the end of this piece, you’ll have a better understanding of mileage bands and how to successfully integrate them into a compensation plan for your mobile workers.

Looking for general info on FAVR? Read this first: Fixed and Variable Rate (FAVR) Reimbursement Guide. 

Mileage bands and fixed reimbursements

In Fixed and Variable Reimbursement (FAVR) programs, the fixed portion of a driver’s reimbursement is directly impacted by the mileage band they fall into. Simply put, higher mileage bands result in an increased fixed reimbursement amount. For instance, an employee who drives 50,000 miles may receive an additional $50 per month in fixed reimbursement compared to someone driving 25,000 miles annually. 

However, it’s important to stress that mileage bands solely affect fixed reimbursements, not the variable component. That’s because mileage bands impact the amount of reimbursed depreciation for a motor vehicle. The more miles one is expected to drive in a year, the more that car will depreciate in a year. The fixed portion of a FAVR allowance reimburses for depreciation.

The importance of accurate mileage band calculation

Accurate calculation of mileage bands holds immense significance for both employers and employees; it ensures fairness in reimbursement amounts, preventing over- or under-reimbursement for employees who utilize their personal vehicles for work purposes. 

Without accuracy, backed by documentation, miscalculations can overwhelm business owners who are simply trying to ensure equity for their mobile workforce. Furthermore, accurately calculated mileage bands can be a requirement for maintaining IRS compliance in reimbursement programs, safeguarding organizations from potential tax liabilities.

Factors influencing mileage bands

Several factors come into play when determining mileage bands, all of which are variables that can influence the predicted mileage range:

• Job requirements
• Industry norms and expectations
• Geographic location
• Employee commuting patterns

For instance, employees in sales roles may have higher mileage bands due to frequent client visits, while those in administrative positions may have lower bands due to limited travel requirements. In a similar vein, workers may be employed by a company whose primary market resides in an entirely different city, necessitating extensive transportation. Understanding and analyzing these unique factors helps create more precise mileage bands that can tailor to the unique needs of organizations that will help them prosper and grow, no matter the distances their workers are required to travel. 

Challenges in mileage band implementation

Implementing mileage bands can present certain challenges for organizations. Tracking and verifying mileage poses a potential hurdle, requiring efficient systems and processes to ensure accuracy. In this sense, reliable mileage tracking methods are essential — be they manual logs or state-of-the-art mileage tracking software. 

When a company outsources the labor of overseeing reimbursements, these mobile apps are typically included in a packaged deal, which includes set-up and continuous management. Indeed, keeping track of varying reimbursement rates for different mileage bands adds complexity to the administration of employee reimbursements. Moreover, compliance with tax regulations necessitates diligent record-keeping and adherence to IRS guidelines. Once again, overcoming these challenges can be made easier with the adoption of vehicle reimbursement software – namely technology that allows company overseers to automate and streamline mileage tracking, reimbursement calculations, and compliance management. 

Adjusting mileage bands for personal and business miles

To ensure reimbursements are doled out properly and efficiently, mileage bands must be adjusted when employees drive both personal and business miles. Specifically, personal mileage should be excluded from the calculation to avoid over-compensation.

Cardata offers mileage flexibility, by offering bands from 5,000 to 50,000+ — this wide range of options coupled with a hands-on and attentive management style means it’s easy to adjust mileage expectations as business needs change. 

Indeed, one of the main functions of mileage bands is the ability to get the most out of reimbursements; if there is a significant disparity between the mileage band your employee has selected and the actual amount of business miles accrued, it increases the likelihood of taxation. That’s why the services of a reimbursement provider are essential when putting together an IRS-compliant vehicle reimbursement program.

See: how to build a vehicle reimbursement program.

Regional variances in mileage bands

Regional variations in mileage bands are noteworthy, reflecting diverse driving patterns and preferences. For example, while the most prevalent mileage band in the United States is 10,000-15,000 miles per year, some drivers will exceed this band easily; these anomalies can be found throughout the country in specific locations:

• Idaho exhibits a higher prevalence of the 15,000-20,000 mile range compared to the national average.
• Oklahoma stands out with a significantly higher average mileage of 25,000 per year – about 50% of drivers there exceed the 20k band, which is nearly double the national average.

Regional differences of this nature can be explained when we consider economic factors, e.g., Idaho is known for essential industries like food production, advanced manufacturing, and the extraction of raw materials like lumber, all of which necessitate a great deal of transportation and labor power to disseminate.[1] In any case, these regional variances highlight the importance of considering local trends when determining mileage bands and ensuring accurate reimbursement amounts for employees across different locations.

[1]  Key Industries – Idaho Commerce 

Mileage bands and cost control

Mileage bands serve as a valuable tool for employers in controlling costs associated with employee reimbursements. Accurately predicting mileage bands enables organizations to budget for vehicle-related expenses, plan resources efficiently, and maintain cost control. By aligning reimbursement amounts with anticipated mileage ranges, businesses can optimize financial management and ensure financial stability while providing fair compensation to their employees who have invested their own vehicular resources to carry out tasks in the name of their employer.

Best practices for mileage band determination

To effectively determine mileage bands, employers can follow a set of best practices to encourage certain behaviors and outcomes on the part of mobile workers. These include employing reliable data collection methods. Once again, the mileage tracking tech of vehicle management software comes in handy. Typically, mobile apps gather information that is captured natively and also redistributed in real-time to a central server or cloud. Once this data is analyzed, it can provide useful analytics regarding mileage bands, by calculating monthly, quarterly, and annual mileage totals. 

Employers ought to use this data to conduct periodic reviews and adjustments to reflect changing circumstances. Seeking out employee input to capture their specific travel requirements is also beneficial while attempting to align mileage bands with industry standards. Adhering to these practices facilitates the creation of fair and realistic mileage bands, fostering transparency and employee satisfaction.

Conclusion

Mileage bands are an essential component in accurately reimbursing employees for their work-related vehicle usage. By understanding the influence of mileage bands on fixed reimbursements, the importance of accurate calculations, factors shaping their determination, regional variations, implementation challenges, and best practices, employers can navigate the complexities of employee reimbursements with confidence.

Implementing effective mileage band strategies ensures fair compensation, compliance with tax regulations, and optimal cost control, benefiting both organizations and their employees. By embracing these principles, businesses can pave the way for streamlined expense management and a harmonious work environment, where employees feel valued and supported in their professional journeys.

^{Disclaimer: Nothing in this blog post is legal, accounting, or insurance advice. Consult your lawyer, accountant, or insurance agent, and do not rely on the information contained herein for any business or personal financial or legal decision-making. While we strive to be as reliable as possible, we are neither lawyers nor accountants or agents. For several citations of IRS publications on which we base our blog content ideas, please always consult this article: https://www.cardata.co/blog/irs-rules-for-mileage-reimbursements. For Cardata’s terms of service, go here: https://www.cardata.co/terms.}