Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator for Gig Drivers
Estimate your yearly federal tax as a 1099 driver and how much to send the IRS each quarter.
| Mileage deduction (72.5¢/mile) | |
| Taxable gig profit | |
| Self-employment tax | |
| Federal income tax | |
| QBI deduction applied | |
| State income tax (estimate) |
Results update as you type. Last updated October 2026.
Why gig drivers pay quarterly
Apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart and Spark treat drivers as independent contractors. They send you a 1099 at the end of the year but do not withhold any taxes. The IRS expects self-employed people who will owe $1,000 or more to pay during the year, in four installments. Paying late can mean an underpayment penalty, even if you pay everything in April.
2026 due dates
| Income earned | Payment due |
|---|---|
| January – March 2026 | April 15, 2026 |
| April – May 2026 | June 15, 2026 |
| June – August 2026 | September 15, 2026 |
| September – December 2026 | January 15, 2027 |
How this estimate works
First, the calculator subtracts the IRS standard mileage deduction (72.5 cents per business mile in 2026) and any other business expenses from your earnings to find your taxable profit. Then it adds two taxes:
- Self-employment tax: 15.3% on 92.35% of your profit. This is your Social Security and Medicare, since no employer is paying half for you.
- Federal income tax: using the 2026 single-filer brackets and $16,100 standard deduction, after subtracting half of your self-employment tax and the 20% qualified business income (QBI) deduction.
If you have a W-2 job too, enter those wages under "other taxable income." The calculator shows only the extra tax caused by your gig profit, and assumes your W-2 job already withholds for its own wages.
Things this estimate does not include
It assumes you file as single and take the standard deduction. It doesn't include tax credits, the new deduction for qualified tips (which some delivery drivers may be able to claim), or local taxes. Treat the result as a safe amount to set aside, and check with a tax professional or IRS.gov for your exact situation. You can pay online for free through IRS Direct Pay.