California Gig Driver Tax Calculator 2026

Tax Calculator

Enter your information below to get your personalized tax estimate

1
Income Information

Required

Gross Earnings (Before Expenses) *

Total income from Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, etc.

Tax Period

Primary Platform

Filing Status

Filing Status Options:
• Single: Not married, no dependents
• Married Filing Jointly: Married, file together
• Married Filing Separately: Married, file separately
• Head of Household: Unmarried with dependents

2
Deductions & Expenses

Maximize savings

Miles Driven for Business *

miles

2026 rate: $0.70/mile = estimated deduction

Phone & Data Plan (Annual)

Business use percentage will be calculated

Car Maintenance & Repairs

Oil changes, tires, repairs, etc.

Fuel Expenses

Only if using actual expense method

Car Insurance (Annual)

Business portion will be calculated

Car Washes & Cleaning

Keep your ride presentable

Tolls & Parking

Other Expenses

Pro Tip: Choose Your Deduction Method

You can use either Standard Mileage ($0.70/mile) or Actual Expenses method. We'll calculate both and show you which saves more!

Standard Mileage: $0.70 per business mile (2026 rate). Simple, no receipts needed for vehicle expenses.

Actual Expenses: Sum of car maintenance, fuel, insurance, car washes, and tolls. Requires detailed records but may save more if you drive a lot or have high vehicle costs.

3
Additional Information

Optional

Other Income Sources

W-2 jobs, side hustles, investments

Estimated Tax Payments Made

Quarterly payments already made

Number of Dependents

Health Insurance Premiums

Self-employed health insurance deduction

No data is stored or shared - calculations happen locally

Your Tax Estimate Results

Based on the information you provided

Gross Income

Total earnings reported

Total Deductions

-$0

Money saved from taxes

Net Income

After deductions

Deduction Breakdown

Tax Breakdown

Self-Employment Tax

Social Security: $0 | Medicare: $0

15.3% on net earnings

Federal Income Tax

Based on your filing status and income bracket

Progressive rates 10-37%

California State Tax

State income tax for CA residents

Progressive rates 1-12.3%

Total Estimated Tax

Federal + Self-Employment + State

Effective Rate: 0%

Your Estimated Take-Home

After all taxes and deductions

Monthly

Weekly

Quarterly Payment

Set aside each quarter

Safe Harbor (110%)

Pay 110% to avoid underpayment penalties

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about gig driver taxes

Yes! As a self-employed gig worker, you're required to pay estimated taxes quarterly if you expect to owe $1,000 or more in taxes for the year. This requirement applies to both federal taxes (IRS) and California state taxes (FTB).

Quarterly payment due dates are:

April 15 (for income earned January 1–March 31)
June 15 (for income earned April 1–May 31)
September 15 (for income earned June 1–August 31)
January 15 of the following year (for income earned September 1–December 31)

Missing quarterly payments can result in penalties and interest charges from both the IRS and California FTB. The penalty is typically calculated based on how much you underpaid and for how long.

Standard Mileage Method ($0.70/mile for 2026):

Simpler to use - just track your business miles
No need to keep detailed receipts for every expense
Includes depreciation, gas, insurance, maintenance, and repairs in one rate
You can still deduct parking fees, tolls, and interest on car loans separately
Must be used in the first year you use your car for business

Actual Expense Method:

Requires detailed record-keeping of all vehicle-related expenses
You can deduct: gas, oil, repairs, insurance, registration, depreciation, lease payments, parking, tolls
You must calculate the business-use percentage of your vehicle
Can be more beneficial if you have high actual expenses and low mileage
Requires keeping all receipts and detailed logs

Important: You cannot switch between methods if you've already used the standard mileage method for a vehicle. Our calculator uses the standard mileage method, which is typically more beneficial for most gig drivers.

If you use the Standard Mileage Method: No, you cannot deduct your car payment. The standard mileage rate ($0.70/mile) already includes depreciation, which accounts for the cost of your vehicle.

If you use the Actual Expense Method: You can deduct certain portions of your car payment:

Car Loan Interest: You can deduct the business-use percentage of interest paid on your car loan (not the principal)
Lease Payments: If you lease your vehicle, you can deduct the business-use percentage of lease payments
Depreciation: If you own the vehicle, you can deduct depreciation based on the business-use percentage

Remember: You must calculate your business-use percentage by dividing business miles by total miles driven. For example, if you drive 15,000 business miles out of 20,000 total miles, your business-use percentage is 75%.

The IRS requires you to keep detailed records to support your tax deductions. Here's what you need:

Mileage Records:

Date of each trip
Starting and ending odometer readings (or total miles)
Destination and business purpose
Use a mileage tracking app or keep a written log

Income Records:

All 1099 forms received from platforms (Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, etc.)
Bank statements showing deposits
Payment summaries from each platform
Any cash payments received

Expense Receipts:

Gas receipts (if using actual expense method)
Car maintenance and repair receipts
Insurance statements
Phone bills (to calculate business percentage)
Tolls and parking receipts
Car wash receipts
Any other business-related expenses

Retention Period: Keep all records for at least 3 years from the date you file your tax return, or 2 years from the date you paid the tax, whichever is later. The IRS can audit returns up to 3 years after filing, and up to 6 years if you underreported income by more than 25%.

While the IRS doesn't "approve" tax calculators, our tool uses official IRS tax tables, California FTB rates, and current tax code for 2026. The calculations are based on:

Official IRS tax brackets and rates for 2026
California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) state tax brackets
Current self-employment tax rates (15.3%)
Official standard mileage rate ($0.70/mile for 2026)
Standard deduction amounts for 2026

Important Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only. Tax laws are complex and change frequently. Individual circumstances vary, and this tool cannot account for all possible deductions, credits, or special situations.

We recommend consulting with a qualified tax professional or certified public accountant (CPA) for personalized tax advice, especially if you have complex financial situations, multiple income sources, or questions about specific deductions.

Perfect! Many gig drivers work for multiple platforms to maximize their earnings. Here's how to handle it:

Combining Income:

Add up your total gross income from all platforms (Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart, etc.)
Enter the combined total in the "Gross Earnings" field
You'll receive one 1099-NEC or 1099-K from each platform, but report the total on your tax return

Tracking Mileage:

Track all business miles regardless of which platform you were driving for
You don't need to separate miles by platform - all business miles count
Use a mileage tracking app that automatically records all trips

Deductions:

All business expenses are deductible regardless of which platform you were working for
Phone expenses, car maintenance, insurance - all count toward your total deductions
You don't need to allocate expenses by platform

Pro Tip: Keep separate records of income from each platform for your own tracking, but combine them for tax purposes. This makes it easier to see which platforms are most profitable and helps if you're ever audited.

Self-employment tax is the Social Security and Medicare tax that self-employed individuals must pay. It's 15.3% of your net earnings (after deductions).

Breakdown of the 15.3%:

Social Security Tax: 12.4% on the first $176,100 of net earnings (2026 wage base)
Medicare Tax: 2.9% on all net earnings (no cap)
Additional Medicare Tax: 0.9% on net earnings over $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly)

Why it seems high: When you're an employee, your employer pays half of these taxes (7.65%) and you pay the other half. As a self-employed gig worker, you're responsible for the full 15.3% because you're both the employer and employee.

Good news: You can deduct half of your self-employment tax (7.65%) from your income before calculating your federal income tax. This helps reduce your overall tax burden.

Example: If your net earnings are $50,000, your self-employment tax would be approximately $7,650. You can deduct $3,825 from your income when calculating your federal income tax.

Proposition 22 is a California ballot measure passed in 2020 that allows app-based transportation and delivery companies (like Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash) to classify drivers as independent contractors rather than employees.

Prop 22 Guarantees:

Minimum Earnings: 120% of local minimum wage for "engaged time" (time spent on trips, not waiting)
Mileage Reimbursement: $0.35 per engaged mile driven
Healthcare Stipend: Up to $4,200/year for drivers who average 25+ hours/week, or $2,520/year for 15-24.99 hours/week

Tax Implications:

Prop 22 benefits (healthcare stipends, mileage reimbursements) are considered taxable income
You must report all Prop 22 benefits on your tax return
You're still classified as an independent contractor, so you pay self-employment tax
You can still deduct business expenses like mileage, phone, etc.

Important: If you're not receiving the minimum guaranteed earnings under Prop 22, you may be owed additional compensation. Use our Prop 22 calculator to verify you're being paid correctly.

TaxDriver

Calculate Your Gig Driver Taxes in Under 2 Minutes

Tax Calculator

1
Income Information

2
Deductions & Expenses

Pro Tip: Choose Your Deduction Method

3
Additional Information

Your Tax Estimate Results

Gross Income

Total Deductions

Net Income

Deduction Breakdown

Tax Breakdown

Self-Employment Tax

Federal Income Tax

California State Tax

Total Estimated Tax

Your Estimated Take-Home

Quarterly Payment

Quarterly Payment Schedule

Are You Getting Your Prop 22 Earnings Guarantee?

Minimum Earnings Guarantee

Mileage Reimbursement

Healthcare Stipend

Prop 22 Benefits Calculator

Prop 22 Calculation Results

How It Works

Enter Your Information

We Calculate Everything

Get Your Results

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I really need to pay quarterly taxes?

What's the difference between standard mileage and actual expenses?

Can I deduct my car payment?

What records do I need to keep?

Is this calculator IRS-approved?

What if I drive for multiple platforms?

What is self-employment tax and why is it so high?

What is Proposition 22 and how does it affect my taxes?

Calculate Your Gig Driver Taxes in Under 2 Minutes

Tax Calculator

1 Income Information

2 Deductions & Expenses

Pro Tip: Choose Your Deduction Method

3 Additional Information

Your Tax Estimate Results

Gross Income

Total Deductions

Net Income

Deduction Breakdown

Tax Breakdown

Self-Employment Tax

Federal Income Tax

California State Tax

Total Estimated Tax

Your Estimated Take-Home

Quarterly Payment

Quarterly Payment Schedule

Are You Getting Your Prop 22 Earnings Guarantee?

Minimum Earnings Guarantee

Mileage Reimbursement

Healthcare Stipend

Prop 22 Benefits Calculator

Prop 22 Calculation Results

How It Works

Enter Your Information

We Calculate Everything

Get Your Results

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I really need to pay quarterly taxes?

What's the difference between standard mileage and actual expenses?

Can I deduct my car payment?

What records do I need to keep?

Is this calculator IRS-approved?

What if I drive for multiple platforms?

What is self-employment tax and why is it so high?

What is Proposition 22 and how does it affect my taxes?

1
Income Information

2
Deductions & Expenses

3
Additional Information