Rideshare Tax Calculator
for Uber, Lyft & DoorDash
Keep more of what you earn driving. Estimate taxes, compare mileage deductions, and understand your real take-home pay as an Uber, Lyft, or DoorDash driver.
Free planning tools
See what your driving income is really worth
Enter your own earnings, expenses, and business miles. Every result includes the assumptions used so you can understand the estimate.
The selected rate applies to all miles entered. Calculate each half of 2026 separately if you drove in both periods.
Why DriverTaxGuard
2026 IRS Rates Built In
All calculations use the latest IRS mileage rates and federal tax brackets for 2026.
True Hourly Wage
See your real hourly rate after fuel, maintenance, and vehicle costs are deducted.
Mileage Phantom Profit
See how the IRS mileage deduction compares with your estimated fuel and maintenance costs.
Common Questions
What is the IRS mileage rate for 2026?
The business rate is 72.5¢ per mile for Jan. 1–Jun. 30 and 76¢ per mile for Jul. 1–Dec. 31, 2026. Calculate miles from each period separately.
Do I have to pay quarterly taxes as a rideshare driver?
Yes. If you expect to owe $1,000 or more in federal taxes for the year, you are generally required to make quarterly estimated tax payments to the IRS.
What is self-employment tax?
Self-employment tax is 15.3% on net self-employment income. As a gig worker, you pay both the employee and employer portions of Social Security and Medicare.
Can I deduct both mileage AND actual expenses?
No. You must choose one method per vehicle per year — either the standard mileage rate or actual expenses (gas, insurance, depreciation, etc.).
What is phantom profit in mileage deductions?
Phantom profit occurs when the applicable IRS mileage deduction exceeds your actual fuel and maintenance costs per mile. The difference can reduce taxable income beyond your cash vehicle costs.
How the Calculators Work
Tax for an independent driver starts from net profit: business income minus business expenses. Each calculator on this page estimates one part of that picture from the numbers you enter.
- True hourly wage. Running cost is fuel (miles ÷ MPG × gas price) plus $0.15 per mile for maintenance. Net hourly pay is earnings minus running cost, divided by hours worked.
- Mileage deduction. Business miles times the IRS rate for the period: $0.725 per mile for January–June 2026 and $0.76 for July–December. The mileage deduction guide covers which miles count.
- Quarterly tax. The quarter's profit is projected to a full year. Self-employment tax is 15.3% of 92.35% of that profit. Federal income tax uses the 2026 brackets after half of the self-employment tax, the standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly), and the qualified business income deduction. The result is divided by four. See the guide to quarterly payments.
The estimates are federal only. They leave out state and local tax, other household income, credits, and the qualified tips deduction. Sources and the review process are on the methodology page. This is general education, not tax advice.