Uber Eats taxes for 2026: a beginner’s guide

For taxes, you run a small business

Delivering with Uber Eats counts as your own business. You report what you earned and what it cost you to earn it.

The same goes for every other app you drive for. Tax is worked out on all of it together.

Self-employment tax pays for Social Security and Medicare: 15.3% of your net earnings for 2026. Net earnings are 92.35% of your profit.

Income tax is worked out on your total income for the year, after deductions. Most states add their own income tax too.

Your business miles. The IRS rate is 72.5 cents a mile from January 1 to June 30, and 76 cents from July 1 to December 31.

Some costs, like the work share of your phone, delivery bags, parking and tolls.

Some of the self-employment tax itself. 50% of it comes off your income, so your income tax is lower.

The IRS asks for tax four times a year when none is taken out of your pay. These are the dates for 2026:

Uber may send a 1099-NEC, a 1099-K, or both. Your pay counts either way, even if no form comes.

Uber also gives drivers a yearly tax summary. It isn’t a tax form, but it helps you check your totals.

Many drivers move part of each payout to savings right away, then pay the IRS on the due dates.

How big a part depends on your miles, other income and state. The free calculator works out your own share.

The figures here are for the 2026 tax year, from IRS documents. Tax rules change from year to year.

The free calculator shows how much of each payout to set aside for your year, with the math. No sign-up.