Gig Tax Kit
For Lyft drivers

Lyft Tax Calculator for 2026

Lyft drivers pay their own taxes as independent contractors. Like Uber, Lyft’s gross figures include fees Lyft keeps, which you can deduct.

$
Use the gross total from your tax summary or 1099-K, before fees.
$
$
Service and booking fees from your tax summary.
mi
72.5¢ per mile
mi
76¢ per mile
$
Phone, bags, parking, tolls, supplies.
$
Leave 0 if you don’t have one.
Estimated federal tax on your Lyft income $0 Set aside 0% of every payout · about $0 a month
You keep Expenses SE tax Income tax
Earnings
Lyft fees
Cost of goods sold
Mileage deduction
Other expenses
Net profit
Self-employment taxSocial Security + Medicare, 15.3% of 92.35% of profit
Federal income tax
Total federal tax

Plan all payments →

Tax tips for Lyft drivers

  • Take the fee totals from Lyft’s tax summary and enter them as platform fees.
  • If you drive for both Lyft and Uber, add the two together. Self-employment tax is figured on your combined profit.
  • Keep a mileage log with dates, miles and purpose. An app that tracks automatically is the easiest way.

Which tax form you’ll get

Form 1099-K for ride payments if you pass the $20,000 and 200-transaction threshold, and a 1099-NEC for bonuses and other pay of $2,000 or more. Lyft also provides an annual tax summary in the driver dashboard.

Not sure what to do with it? Our quarterly tax calculator shows what to pay and when.

How this is calculated

Net profit = earnings − Lyft fees − mileage deduction − other expenses. Mileage uses 72.5¢ per mile for miles driven Jan 1 – Jun 30, 2026 and 76¢ per mile from Jul 1 – Dec 31, 2026.

Self-employment tax is 15.3% of 92.35% of profit. Income tax uses the 2026 brackets after the standard deduction, half of your SE tax, the 20% QBI deduction and, if you tick the box, the qualified tips deduction.

If you also have a W-2 job, the result shows only the extra tax from your Lyft income.

Figures for tax year 2026. Full method and sources on our methodology page.

Common questions

Do I need to pay quarterly taxes as a Lyft driver?

If you expect to owe $1,000 or more when you file, the IRS expects quarterly estimated payments. The next due date is shown in the result above.

Should I use actual expenses instead of mileage?

Only if your real costs per mile are higher than the IRS rate and you keep receipts for everything. For most drivers with reliable, efficient cars, the standard mileage rate gives the bigger deduction.

Related calculators

Gig Driver Real Hourly Pay What you earn per hour after gas, wear and tax. Mileage Deduction Calculator Both 2026 IRS rates: 72.5¢ and 76¢. Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator What to pay each quarter to avoid a penalty. 1099 Deductions Checklist Write-offs to check, filtered by your work.

Last updated September 28, 2026. This calculator gives an estimate for federal taxes only and isn’t tax advice. State and local taxes aren’t included.