Calculator · Tax year 2026
Gig Driver Tax Calculator 2026: DoorDash, Uber, Lyft & more
Delivery and rideshare apps pay you as an independent contractor, so nothing is withheld. Enter what you earned and how many miles you drove to see how much to set aside, with both 2026 IRS mileage rates applied.
Other / several apps · tax receipt · 2026
Enter your earnings and miles and your receipt prints here.
How taxes work for delivery and rideshare drivers
To the IRS, driving for DoorDash, Uber, Lyft, Instacart, Amazon Flex or Grubhub is running your own small business. You report your earnings and expenses on Schedule C, and on the profit you pay two taxes:
- Self-employment tax (15.3% of 92.35% of your profit) for Social Security and Medicare.
- Federal income tax, after the standard deduction and the 20% qualified business income deduction.
Because no one withholds these taxes, the safest habit is to move a fixed share of every payout into a separate account. The calculator tells you what share fits your numbers.
Mileage: your biggest deduction
In 2026 the IRS changed the business mileage rate in the middle of the year, so miles are worth more in the second half:
| Miles driven | Rate per mile |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 – June 30, 2026 | 72.5¢ |
| July 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026 | 76¢ |
If you only know your total for the year, the calculator splits it between both rates by the number of days in each half. If you know your miles before and after July 1, enter them separately for an exact figure.
- What counts: miles driven to pickups, with passengers or orders, and between jobs. Keep a log with the date, miles and purpose, or use a mileage-tracking app.
- What the rate includes: gas, maintenance, insurance and depreciation. You cannot deduct those separately if you use the mileage rate.
- What you can add on top: parking fees and tolls for work.
- Choose early: to use the mileage rate for a car you own, you generally need to use it in the first year the car is used for business.
Example: a driver who earned $38,500
| App earnings | $38,500 |
|---|---|
| Mileage deduction (12,000 miles) | −$8,912 |
| Phone, tolls and supplies | −$900 |
| Net profit | $28,688 |
| Self-employment tax | $4,054 |
| Federal income tax | $845 |
| Total to set aside | $4,898 |
That is about 13% of every payout, or $94 a week. Logging the miles saved this driver about $1,975 in federal taxes.
Other expenses drivers can deduct
- The business share of your phone and data plan.
- Parking and tolls while working.
- Insulated bags, phone mounts, chargers and other supplies.
- Fees the app keeps, if your 1099-K reports gross fares before those fees.
- Subscriptions you need for the work, such as a mileage-tracking app.
Forms you may receive
Depending on the app and how much you earned, you may get a 1099-NEC (payments for services), a 1099-K (payments processed by the platform), both, or neither. The form does not change what you owe: you report all your earnings either way. Check each app's tax section to download your documents.
Pay during the year to avoid a penalty
If you will owe $1,000 or more, the IRS expects quarterly estimated payments. Our quarterly estimated tax calculator shows how much to pay by each due date and how to catch up if you are behind.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay taxes if I did not get a 1099?
Yes. All your earnings from the apps are taxable, whether or not the app sends you a 1099-NEC or 1099-K. Keep your own records of what you were paid, including tips.
How much should I set aside from each payout?
It depends on your earnings, miles and filing status. In the example on this page, about 13% of every payout covers federal taxes. Enter your own numbers in the calculator, and add your state income tax if your state has one.
Can I deduct gas and the mileage rate?
No, you choose one. The standard mileage rate already covers gas, maintenance, insurance and depreciation. The alternative is deducting your actual car expenses. Parking and tolls for work can be deducted on top of either method.
Are the miles in my app summary enough?
Often not. App summaries usually count only miles with an active trip or order, so they can miss miles driven to pickups and between jobs. A mileage log or tracking app gives you a more complete, documented number.
I drive for several apps. How do I report it?
Add up the earnings and expenses from all of them. Similar driving work is usually reported together on one Schedule C, with one self-employment tax calculation.
Are my tips taxed?
Tips are income and count toward self-employment tax. The new "no tax on tips" deduction (tax years 2025 to 2028) can lower the income tax on qualified tips for eligible workers, but it does not reduce self-employment tax. This calculator does not apply it; our no tax on tips calculator shows what it saves you.
Sources
- IRS: Gig Economy Tax Centerirs.gov
- IRS: Standard mileage ratesirs.gov
- IRS Publication 463: Travel, Gift, and Car Expensesirs.gov
- IRS: About Schedule C (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From Businessirs.gov
- IRS: Self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare taxes)irs.gov
- IRS: What the "No Tax on Tips" deduction means for youirs.gov
- IRS: Tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026irs.gov
Self-employment tax calculator → ·How we calculate and verify our numbers →