Free tool

1099 tax calculator

Estimate your 2026 federal taxes on gig and freelance income, including self-employment tax, income tax, the mileage deduction and no tax on tips, and see how much to set aside each quarter.

Total paid to you, including tips and bonuses

Shown on your 1099; used for no tax on tips

Phone, bags, fees, not car costs

Deducted at 72.5 cents a mile

Deducted at 76 cents a mile

Leave blank if gig work is your only income

From paychecks or estimated payments

Set aside for federal tax

$5,181

About 17.3% of your gig income.

Self-employment tax
$4,239
Federal income tax (total)
$942
Total federal tax
$5,181
Marginal income tax rate
10%

How we got there

Gig income
$30,000
Net profit
$30,000
Half of self-employment tax
-$2,119
Standard deduction
-$16,100
QBI deduction
-$2,356
Taxable income
$9,424

Quarterly estimated payments

You'd owe about $5,181 after withholding, so plan on $1,295 a quarter:

  • Q1 due April 15, 2026$1,295
  • Q2 due June 15, 2026$1,295
  • Q3 due September 15, 2026$1,295
  • Q4 due January 15, 2027$1,295

An estimate of 2026 federal tax only. It leaves out state and local tax, credits, itemized deductions and actual-cost vehicle expenses. It isn't tax advice.

How gig work is taxed

Apps like DoorDash, Uber and Instacart treat you as an independent contractor, so nothing is withheld from your pay. You owe two federal taxes on your profit: self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare) and regular income tax.

  1. Start with everything the apps paid you, including tips.
  2. Subtract business expenses. Drivers usually take the standard mileage rate: 72.5 cents a mile from January to June 2026 and 76 cents a mile from July to December.
  3. Self-employment tax is 15.3% of 92.35% of your profit (the Social Security part stops at $184,500 of earnings).
  4. For income tax, subtract half of your self-employment tax, the standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household), any no-tax-on-tips deduction and the 20% qualified business income deduction, then apply the 2026 brackets.

Want to know what the apps actually pay before taxes? See our guides to plasma donation pay and the best-paying delivery apps, or browse gig companies on GigFish.

Common questions

How much should I set aside for taxes as a gig worker?

It depends on your profit and filing status, which is why the calculator shows your own number. Self-employment tax alone is 15.3% of 92.35% of your profit, about 14.1%, before any income tax. Many gig workers with modest profit end up setting aside roughly 15% to 25% of what they earn after expenses.

What is self-employment tax?

It is Social Security and Medicare tax for people who work for themselves. Employees split these taxes with their employer, but 1099 workers pay both halves: 12.4% for Social Security (on earnings up to $184,500 in 2026) and 2.9% for Medicare. You can deduct half of it when you figure your income tax.

Will I get a 1099 from DoorDash, Uber or Instacart?

Starting with payments made in 2026, platforms send a 1099-NEC when they pay you $2,000 or more in a year, up from $600. Payment apps and marketplaces send a 1099-K above $20,000 and 200 transactions. Either way, all of your gig income is taxable even if you never get a form.

Do I have to pay quarterly estimated taxes?

Generally yes, if you expect to owe $1,000 or more after withholding. For 2026 the deadlines are April 15, June 15 and September 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027. You can avoid an underpayment penalty by paying at least 90% of this year’s tax or 100% of last year’s (110% if your adjusted gross income was over $150,000).

Do tips count, and what is "no tax on tips"?

Tips are income and count toward self-employment tax. From 2025 through 2028, people in occupations that customarily receive tips, including app-based delivery and rideshare drivers, can deduct up to $25,000 of qualified tips from taxable income. The tips must appear on your 1099, married couples must file jointly, and the deduction shrinks above $150,000 of income ($300,000 for joint filers). It does not reduce self-employment tax.

Should I use the standard mileage rate?

Most drivers do, because it is simple and usually generous. For 2026 the IRS rate is 72.5 cents per mile for driving from January 1 to June 30, and 76 cents per mile from July 1 to December 31. Track every business mile with an app or log. The alternative is deducting actual car costs, which this calculator does not model.

Sources

Uses 2026 IRS figures, last reviewed October 7, 2026. Some 2026 IRS forms were still drafts when we checked.

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