Mileage is a big deduction, Schrage noted, adding, Although it may not seem like much, it adds up. If you drive from your office to a job-related destination—a sales meeting, to get office supplies, or to the airport—those miles are typically deductible. For 2023, the mileage rate is 65.5 cents per mile.

In 2026, claiming mileage is absolutely worth the minimal effort it takes to sign up, as many programs have shifted away from "miles flown" to "dollars spent," providing more immediate rewards. Even if you only fly once a year, airline miles (like Delta SkyMiles or United MileagePlus) often no longer expire, meaning they act as a long-term "travel savings account." Beyond free flights, having a frequent flyer number on your reservation often grants you "invisible" perks, such as being higher on the list for rebooking during a flight cancellation or getting access to free in-flight Wi-Fi for messaging. If you find managing points too tedious, you can use "aggregator" apps to track them or simply stick to one airline alliance to reach the "entry-level" elite status, which pays for itself through a single waived checked-bag fee.