How Grubhub drivers are taxed
Grubhub delivery partners are independent contractors. You are paid in full, nothing is withheld, and at tax time you report your deliveries as a small business on Schedule C. On your profit you owe self-employment tax (15.3% of 92.35% of profit) and federal income tax, plus state income tax in most states.
New to this? Start with our beginner’s guide to 1099 taxes.
Your Grubhub 1099-NEC
Grubhub reports what it paid you on Form 1099-NEC. For 2026 payments, the federal threshold is $2,000 (it was $600 through 2025, and Grubhub’s help pages may still show the older figure).
According to Grubhub:
- Your form is available starting in February in the Grubhub for Drivers app and the Grubhub Driver Portal.
- If you opt into e-delivery, you can select “Get my tax form” and receive a copy by email.
- If you did not opt into e-delivery before January 1, a paper form is also mailed to your address on file in early February.
- You can check your delivery preference in the app under Account › Personal info › Tax form information.
Compare the form with your earnings history in the Driver Portal. See our Form 1099-NEC guide for how to read it.
How much to set aside
A typical year for a single Grubhub driver with no other income:
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Grubhub earnings, including tips | $26,000 |
| Mileage deduction (9,500 miles) | −$7,055 |
| Phone, bags and supplies | −$600 |
| Net profit | $18,345 |
| Self-employment tax | $2,592 |
| Federal income tax | $55 |
| Total to set aside | $2,647 |
That is about 10% of your earnings, or $51 a week, and most of it is self-employment tax. Tracking your miles saves this driver about $1,542. Run your own numbers in our gig driver tax calculator.
Deductions for Grubhub drivers
- Mileage: 72.5¢ per mile January–June and 76¢ July–December 2026. Include the drive to restaurants, between orders and back to your delivery zone, and keep a log.
- Insulated bags, phone mounts and chargers.
- Your phone and data plan, business share.
- Parking and tolls while delivering.
- Actual car costs instead of mileage, only if that method gives you more: see mileage vs actual expenses.
Pay during the year
If you will owe $1,000 or more, make quarterly estimated payments: April 15, 2026, June 15, 2026, September 15, 2026 and January 15, 2027 for the 2026 tax year. Our quarterly estimated tax calculator tells you how much.
Filing checklist for Grubhub drivers
- Get your 1099-NEC from the app or Driver Portal, or use your earnings history if you did not get one.
- Add up business miles for January–June and July–December.
- Gather receipts for bags, phone, parking and tolls.
- Report everything on Schedule C, figure self-employment tax on Schedule SE and file Form 1040 by April 15, 2027.
- Subtract your estimated payments.
Also deliver for other apps? Our guides cover DoorDash, Uber Eats and Instacart.