A single Uber Eats courier who earned $30,000 in 2026, including $8,500 in tips, and drove 12,200 business miles would owe about $2,874 in federal tax: $10 of every $100, or about $55 a week, in a state with no income tax. Most of it is 15.3% self-employment tax. Use the calculator for your own number and state.
Estimated 2026 tax from your gig work: $3,865, about $74 a week.
Show the math
| Gig earningsSchedule C, line 1 | $42,000 |
| Mileage deductionSchedule C, line 9 (72.5¢ and 76¢ a mile) | −$13,745 |
| Other business expensesSchedule C | −$900 |
| Net profitSchedule C, line 31 | $27,355 |
| Self-employment taxSchedule SE (15.3% of 92.35% of profit) | $3,865 |
| Half of self-employment taxSchedule 1 adjustment | −$1,933 |
| Adjusted gross incomeForm 1040 | $25,422 |
| Standard deductionForm 1040 | −$16,100 |
| Tips deductionSchedule 1-A (up to $25,000) | −$11,500 |
| Business income deductionForm 8995 (QBI) | −$0 |
| Taxable incomeForm 1040 | $0 |
| Federal income tax2026 tax brackets | $0 |
| Texas income taxNo state income tax | $0 |
| Total tax | $3,865 |
An estimate for planning, not tax advice. See how we calculate and our verified examples.
Uber Eats taxes 2026: a full-time Uber Eats courier’s example
Uber Eats couriers pay self-employment tax on their profit, and income tax only on what’s left after deductions. Here is the full calculation for the example above, line by line:
| Gig earningsSchedule C, line 1 | $30,000 |
| Mileage deductionSchedule C, line 9 (72.5¢ and 76¢ a mile) | −$9,062 |
| Other business expensesSchedule C | −$600 |
| Net profitSchedule C, line 31 | $20,338 |
| Self-employment taxSchedule SE (15.3% of 92.35% of profit) | $2,874 |
| Half of self-employment taxSchedule 1 adjustment | −$1,437 |
| Adjusted gross incomeForm 1040 | $18,901 |
| Standard deductionForm 1040 | −$16,100 |
| Tips deductionSchedule 1-A (up to $25,000) | −$8,500 |
| Business income deductionForm 8995 (QBI) | −$0 |
| Taxable incomeForm 1040 | $0 |
| Federal income tax2026 tax brackets | $0 |
| Texas income taxNo state income tax | $0 |
| Total tax from gig work | $2,874 |
The mileage deduction alone is worth $9,062 and saves about $1,498 in tax. The tips deduction saves another $224 of federal income tax. Setting aside about $55 a week covers the year’s tax in this example.
Uber Eats 1099: how Uber Eats reports your earnings
Uber Eats uses the same tax system as Uber rides. Find your annual tax summary, 1099-K (if customers paid over $20,000 across more than 200 orders) and 1099-NEC (promotions and other payments of $2,000 or more for 2026) in the Driver app under Account > Tax Info, or at drivers.uber.com, by January 31.
No tax on tips for Uber Eats couriers
Customer tips added in the app count, and your tax summary shows the yearly total. Delivery fares, surge and Quests are not tips. Delivery drivers are on the IRS list of tipped occupations, so Uber Eats customer tips qualify. You can deduct up to $25,000 of qualified tips from federal income tax for 2025 through 2028 on Schedule 1-A, but not more than your net profit. You still pay self-employment tax on tips.
Deductions for Uber Eats couriers
- Online miles while delivering
- Uber’s service fees, if your 1099-K shows gross amounts
- Insulated bags and a phone mount
- Tolls and parking while delivering
- The business share of your phone and data plan
Uber Eats mileage deduction 2026: which miles count
Online miles in your Uber tax summary include driving to the restaurant and to the customer. If you also drive rides, both count. Keep a daily log of your own as backup.
Quarterly taxes for Uber Eats couriers
If you expect to owe $1,000 or more for the year, the IRS expects payments during the year. The 2026 due dates:
| Payment | Covers income earned | Due date |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | January 1 to March 31, 2026 | April 15, 2026 |
| Q2 | April 1 to May 31, 2026 | June 15, 2026 |
| Q3 | June 1 to August 31, 2026 | September 15, 2026 |
| Q4 | September 1 to December 31, 2026 | January 15, 2027 |
Uber Eats tax calculator by state
- Alabama
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- South Carolina
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- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
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Guides for Uber Eats couriers
- DoorDash 1099 for 2026: When You Get One and Where to Find It
- DoorDash Tax Deductions 2026: Checklist for Delivery Drivers
- Estimated Tax Due Dates 2026 for DoorDash and Uber Drivers
- No Tax on Tips for DoorDash and Uber Drivers (2026 Rules)
- IRS Mileage Rate 2026: 72.5¢ and 76¢ for Gig Drivers
- DoorDash Self-Employment Tax 2026: What 15.3% Means
Uber Eats tax questions
How much should I set aside for taxes as an Uber Eats courier?
In the example above, an Uber Eats courier sets aside $10 of every $100, about $55 a week, before state tax. Drivers who track mileage usually set aside about $8 to $11 per $100 for federal tax in 2026; more in high-tax states or with few deductible miles.
Does Uber Eats take out taxes?
No. Uber Eats couriers are independent contractors, so Uber Eats does not withhold any tax. You pay it yourself through quarterly estimated payments or when you file.
Does no tax on tips apply to Uber Eats?
Yes. Delivery drivers are on the IRS list of tipped occupations, so Uber Eats customer tips qualify. You can deduct up to $25,000 of qualified tips from federal income tax, up to your net profit.
Will I get a 1099 from Uber Eats?
For 2026 work you get a Form 1099-NEC if paid $2,000 or more, and a Form 1099-K if card and app payments were over $20,000 and more than 200 transactions. Report all your income even without a form.
What is the 2026 mileage rate for Uber Eats couriers?
72.5 cents per mile from January 1 to June 30, 2026, and 76 cents per mile from July 1 to December 31, 2026.
When are quarterly taxes due for 2026?
April 15, June 15 and September 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027.
