Guide
Countries, mileage rates and tax in SparkyLog
SparkyLog supports five countries with the correct currency, mileage rate and tax percentage for each. Here’s how it works, what the current rates are, and how to adjust them if your situation is different from the default.
Countries, mileage rates and tax
SparkyLog supports five countries. When you change your country in Settings, the app automatically updates your currency, mileage rate and default tax percentage. You can also adjust the tax rate manually if your situation is different from the default.
Changing your country
Tap “Settings” at the bottom of the screen.
Tap “Country”.
Select your country from the dropdown.
Tap “Save”. Your currency symbol, mileage rate and tax rate all update immediately across the entire app — dashboard, invoices, tax report, everything.
Current mileage rates (2026)
When you log mileage as a cost, the app calculates your claimable amount automatically using the correct rate for your country:
| Country | Rate | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 55p | per mile | First 10,000 miles. 25p/mile after that. Changed April 2026 — first increase since 2011. |
| United States | 76¢ | per mile | IRS standard rate. Updated July 2026 (mid-year increase from 72.5¢). |
| Canada | C$0.73 | per km | CRA rate for first 5,000 km. 67¢/km after that. |
| Australia | A$0.91 | per km | ATO rate from July 2026. Maximum 5,000 km per year using this method. |
| Ireland | €0.43 | per km | Reference rate for tracking. Self employed in Ireland must claim actual vehicle costs on their tax return. |
Tip: You don’t need to know these rates or do any calculation. Just enter the number of miles or kilometres you drove and the app works out the claimable amount for you.
Default tax rates
When you switch country, the app sets a sensible default tax rate for a typical self employed tradesperson in that country:
| Country | Default rate | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 20% | Basic rate income tax. Most sole traders fall in this bracket. |
| United States | 25% | Federal income tax plus self-employment tax combined estimate. |
| Canada | 25% | Combined federal and provincial tax estimate. |
| Australia | 30% | The 32.5% marginal bracket where most tradespeople fall, adjusted for tax-free threshold. |
| Ireland | 28% | Income tax plus PRSI and USC combined estimate. |
Manually adjusting your tax rate
Tap “Settings” at the bottom of the screen.
Tap “Rates, tax & NICEIC number”.
Change the “Tax rate” field to whatever percentage matches your situation. For example, if you’re a higher-rate taxpayer in the UK, change it to 40.
Tap “Save”. Your tax report will now use this rate when calculating your estimated tax liability.
The tax rate is only used for the “Estimated tax” figure in your tax report. It doesn’t affect your actual tax — that’s calculated by HMRC (or your country’s tax authority) based on your full tax return. Think of it as a rough guide to help you budget, not a final figure.
✕ Don’t panic if the default rate isn’t exactly right for you. It’s a starting estimate. Adjust it in Settings to match your actual tax bracket for a more accurate estimate, or leave it and check with your accountant at year end.
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