The recent increase in the standard business mileage rate was a welcome change for most. But folks still clamoring for more could affect your company. The rate for charitable use of a car hasn’t changed in years, because it is set by Congress, not IRS. That leaves the charitable rate limping along at 14 cents per mile; the business rate is now 58.5 cents.

The charitable rate is mostly used by individuals, and probably not something you generally handle. But as non-profits lobby Congress to change the charitable rate, it shines more light on the business mileage rate.

Several bills are still pending that would hike the business rate even further — some are proposing as much as 70 cents per mile.

And with gas prices still near record highs, and a lot of congressional seats up for grabs this year, it’s likely politicians will want to throw a bone to the voters to keep them happy.

So you could see yet another mileage rate increase before the year is out.

Tags: Congress, Economic outlook, IRS, mileage rate, T&E