If you earn 1099 income from Uber, DoorDash, Upwork, or any gig platform, you're responsible for paying taxes that would normally be split between you and an employer. Here's everything you need to know.
1. Track every mile — 67¢/mile deduction in 2026
2. Make quarterly payments — April 15, June 15, Sept 15, Jan 15
3. Set aside 25–30% — of every payment for taxes
When you're a W-2 employee, you pay 7.65% in FICA taxes (Social Security + Medicare) and your employer pays the other 7.65%. As a 1099 worker, you pay both halves — 15.3% total on your net self-employment income.
The good news: you get to deduct half of your SE tax from your income taxes, reducing the bite.
If you expect to owe $1,000 or more in taxes, the IRS wants quarterly payments. Miss them and you face underpayment penalties (though the safe harbor rule helps — pay 100% of last year's tax or 90% of this year's and you're safe).
Save everything for at least 3 years. Keep: mileage logs (date, destination, purpose for every business trip), receipts for all business expenses, 1099 forms from platforms, and your profit/loss statements.
The best approach: use a mileage tracking app and connect it to your tax software. FreshBooks and similar tools automate this.
Enter your 1099 income and deductions to see exactly what you owe each quarter.
Quarterly Tax Calculator →