State Mileage Reimbursement for Ohio (OH) Employees

The state of Ohio does not govern how much your employer must pay you for travel expenses. In fact, there are no laws stating that an employer even has to reimburse you for mileage costs. Most employers do however reimburse their employees for using personal vehicles on company business. They usually pay a rate at or near that of the federal standard. Some employers mirror their policies after that of the states. The State of Ohio only reimburses its employees at 40 cents per mile when the current federal rate is 44.5 cents per mile.

The IRS sets an optional standard mileage rate annually based on a number of factors, such as gas prices, insurance rates, and new car costs. This is the maximum amount allowed as a deductible expense. Travel expenses are not usually considered taxable income. If you are paid at a rate lower than the standard amount then you may claim the difference, but if you are paid at a higher amount, then you may be subject to report the excess as wages earned. Some employers pay a fixed daily or monthly rate such as in cases of employees traveling to multiple worksites on a regular basis, or who telecommute or work from home.

There are usually exceptions to what is considered a business travel expense. You should discuss with your employer their travel policies and find out what is considered reimbursable. Employers will almost never pay mileage for the commute to or from your residence. Some employers also require pre approval for travel and will usually have different guidelines for traveling in or out of state. Most of the time if you are traveling far from your place of employment you will be compensated for meals and lodging. You should always be paid for your travel time.