Gig Tax Guide
Gig Worker Taxes: The Complete Guide
Driving for DoorDash, Uber, or Instacart makes you an independent contractor — nobody withholds taxes for you. That means you owe income tax plus self-employment tax, and you pay it yourself, as you go. Here's how gig taxes actually work, what you can deduct, and where to go deeper for your platform.
The three things every gig worker owes
Self-employment tax (15.3%)
On top of income tax, you owe 12.4% Social Security + 2.9% Medicare on your net earnings. Employees split this with an employer — you cover both halves, though half is deductible.
Income tax on net profit
You're taxed on profit, not gross payouts. Deductions like mileage lower the income you're taxed on, which is why tracking them matters so much.
Quarterly estimated payments
There's no withholding, so the IRS expects you to pay as you earn — four times a year. Skipping quarterly payments can mean an underpayment penalty.
Taxes by platform
Each platform issues different forms and reports your earnings differently. Pick yours for a step-by-step breakdown.
DoorDash taxes →
Guide for Dashers
Uber taxes →
Guide for Uber drivers
Instacart taxes →
Guide for full-service shoppers
Amazon Flex taxes →
Guide for Amazon Flex drivers
Grubhub taxes →
Guide for Grubhub drivers
Lyft taxes →
Guide for Lyft drivers
Spark Driver taxes →
Guide for Spark drivers
Shipt taxes →
Guide for Shipt shoppers
Roadie taxes →
Guide for Roadie drivers
Gopuff taxes →
Guide for Gopuff drivers
TaskRabbit taxes →
Guide for Taskers
Rover taxes →
Guide for Rover sitters and walkers
Upwork taxes →
Guide for Upwork freelancers
Fiverr taxes →
Guide for Fiverr sellers
Favor taxes →
Guide for Runners
Veho taxes →
Guide for Veho drivers
Dolly taxes →
Guide for Helpers
GoShare taxes →
Guide for GoShare drivers
Wag taxes →
Guide for Wag walkers and sitters
Etsy taxes →
Guide for Etsy sellers
eBay taxes →
Guide for eBay sellers
Poshmark taxes →
Guide for Poshmark sellers
Mercari taxes →
Guide for Mercari sellers
Depop taxes →
Guide for Depop sellers
Taxes by state
State income tax varies — some states have none. See how your state treats gig income on top of federal self-employment tax.
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Taxes by city
A few cities add a local income or earnings tax on top of federal and state — and some hit self-employed gig workers directly.
Compare platforms
Deciding where to drive? Compare how pay, fees, and tax forms stack up — then compute your own net pay.
More tax guides
New to gig work? Start here
Beginner guides to getting started and earning on each platform.
How to make money on DoorDash →
How to make money on Uber →
How to make money on Instacart →
How to make money on Amazon Flex →
How to make money on Lyft →
How to make money on Grubhub →
How to make money on Spark Driver →
How to make money on TaskRabbit →
How to make money on Rover →
How to make money on Shipt →
How to make money on Gopuff →
How to make money on Roadie →
How to make money on Favor →
How to make money on Wag →
Free tax calculators
Frequently asked questions
Do gig workers have to pay taxes?
Yes. Gig platforms pay you as an independent contractor and withhold nothing, so you're responsible for federal and state income tax plus the 15.3% self-employment tax on your net earnings. You must report all income even if you don't receive a 1099.
How much should gig workers set aside for taxes?
A common rule of thumb is 25–30% of your net earnings (after deductions like mileage), covering self-employment tax plus federal and state income tax. Your exact rate depends on total household income and your state. The Tax Set-Aside calculator gives a personalized number.
What's the difference between a 1099-NEC and a 1099-K?
A 1099-NEC reports nonemployee compensation — direct pay for your services, like DoorDash and Instacart earnings or Uber incentives. A 1099-K reports payments processed through a third-party platform, such as Uber's gross rider fares. You owe tax on your net income regardless of which form (or no form) you receive.
Do gig workers have to pay quarterly taxes?
If you expect to owe $1,000 or more for the year, the IRS generally expects estimated payments four times a year — around April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15. Paying quarterly avoids an underpayment penalty at filing time.
What can gig workers deduct?
The largest deduction for most drivers is business mileage at the IRS standard mileage rate. You can also deduct the business-use share of your phone, hot bags and equipment, tolls, parking, and platform service fees. Track expenses all year — you can't reconstruct them in April.
What tax forms do gig workers file?
Most gig workers report income and expenses on Schedule C and calculate self-employment tax on Schedule SE, filed with their Form 1040. Quarterly estimated payments use Form 1040-ES.
Authoritative IRS resources
Stop guessing what you owe
UnifyOne tracks your earnings, mileage, and tax set-aside across every platform automatically — so quarterly taxes are never a surprise.
This guide is educational information, not tax advice. Tax rules, thresholds, and the IRS standard mileage rate change yearly — confirm current figures with the IRS or a qualified tax professional for your situation.