Quarterly taxes for rideshare and delivery drivers

Estimate only, not tax advice. Check IRS.gov or a tax professional before you pay.

If you drive for a rideshare or food-delivery app, you're usually an independent contractor, so no tax is withheld from your payouts. You pay income tax and self-employment tax yourself, through quarterly estimated payments.

What counts as income

All your earnings for driving count, including tips and bonuses, whether or not you get a 1099. A payment app or platform must send a Form 1099-K once your payments pass $20,000 and 200 transactions, but they may send one for less. You owe tax on all of it either way.

Your biggest deduction: miles

For 2026 the IRS standard mileage rate for business is 72.5 cents per mile for January 1 to June 30 and 76 cents per mile from July 1 to December 31. Miles driven with a passenger or delivery count. Your normal commute doesn't, but a driver's working miles usually do. Log the date, miles and purpose for each trip. See the mileage deduction guide.

How to estimate what you owe

Subtract your mileage deduction and other costs (phone share, tolls, parking, fees the app takes) from your gross earnings. That's your profit. Enter it in the calculator below to see self-employment tax, income tax and a per-quarter amount.

Track your miles with DriveLog

DriveLog is our spreadsheet mileage and expense log for drivers. It's a separate template, not part of the QuarterSet tax planner.

Run your own numbers

Estimate only, not tax advice. Figures are for tax year 2026 from IRS sources (Form 1040-ES, Rev. Proc. 2025-32 and the pages listed under Sources) and the SSA. Confirm with IRS.gov or a tax professional.

Sources: IRS: Understanding your Form 1099-K · IRS: Standard mileage rates · IRS Form 1040-ES (2026)

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