Gig Driver Toolkit 2027Know your real pay. Track every mile. Never get surprised at tax time.

Offer Check

Is this order worth taking? Put in what the app shows you.

$ per mile
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$ per hour (after car cost)
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You keep (after car cost)
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–

Uses the car cost and target pay you set under "Real Hourly Pay".

Real Hourly Pay

For a whole shift or week. The app shows your gross pay. This shows what you actually keep.

App says (gross/hr)
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Gas cost
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Wear & tear
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After car costs /hr
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After taxes too /hr
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Set aside for taxes
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–

Wear & tear covers tires, oil, repairs and depreciation. 10–15¢/mile is a common ballpark for most cars, so adjust it for yours.

Log a Shift or Business Trip

An IRS-friendly mileage log plus your earnings in one place. Log each shift the same day you drive it.

Year to Date

Earned (pay + tips)
$0
Business miles
0
Mileage deduction
$0
Hours
0
Real $/hr (after car cost)
–

The IRS wants each business trip recorded with its date, miles and business purpose, written down when you drive it (not rebuilt in April). Keep your exported CSV or printout with your tax records.

Add an Expense

Keep the receipts. Snap a photo and note it here.

Expense Totals

Deductible (with standard mileage)
$0
Car costs (tracked, not extra deduction)
$0

If you take the standard mileage rate, gas, oil, repairs, insurance and car washes are already covered by the per-mile rate, so they can't be deducted again. They're still worth logging so you know your true cost. Parking, tolls, your phone and delivery gear are deducted separately.

Tax Set-Aside Estimator

Gig apps don't withhold taxes. Here's roughly how much to save.

Profit after deductions
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Self-employment tax
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Income tax (fed + state)
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Total for the year
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–

Self-employment tax is 15.3% (Social Security + Medicare) on 92.35% of your profit. Half of it is subtracted before income tax here. This is a simplified estimate that skips some credits and the QBI deduction, so it usually runs a little high, which is the safe side. It isn't tax advice. Check with a tax pro or IRS Form 1040-ES.

2027 Quarterly Payments

If you'll owe $1,000+ for the year, the IRS expects payments 4 times a year (Form 1040-ES / IRS Direct Pay).

Due dateSuggestedPaidLeft
Paid so far
$0
Still to pay
$0

Covers income from: Q1 Jan–Mar · Q2 Apr–May · Q3 Jun–Aug · Q4 Sep–Dec. Jan 15, 2028 falls on a Saturday and the next Monday is MLK Day, so Q4 moves to Jan 18, 2028. Double-check every date against the official 2027 Form 1040-ES once the IRS posts it. Many states (SC included) want their own estimated payments too.

Apps and offers that put more money back in a driver's pocket.

Disclosure: some links on this tab are affiliate links. If you sign up through one, the maker of this toolkit may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for keeping these tools cheap!

Settings

The IRS sets the 2027 rate each December. Until then this uses 76¢, the rate for July–December 2026. Change it here once the new rate is announced.

Backup & Restore

Your logs are saved in this browser only, on this device. Back up every week or two, and always before clearing your browser data.

Free calculator for delivery and rideshare drivers

The pay the app shows you isn't what you keep. This free tool subtracts gas, wear and tear and taxes so you see your real hourly pay. The Offer Check tells you in seconds whether an order is worth taking, and the tax estimator shows how much to set aside and when your 2027 quarterly payments are due. It runs in your browser with no sign-up, and your numbers never leave your device.

Questions

How do I figure out my real hourly pay as a delivery driver?

Add up your pay and tips for a shift, subtract gas (miles ÷ MPG × gas price) and wear and tear (often 10–15¢ per mile), then divide by every hour you were online, including time spent waiting. The calculator does this for you.

How much should gig drivers set aside for taxes?

Self-employed drivers owe self-employment tax of 15.3% on most of their profit, plus income tax. Many drivers set aside 15–25% of what they earn. The estimator works out a number for your income, miles and tax bracket.

When are 2027 quarterly estimated taxes due?

April 15, 2027, June 15, 2027, September 15, 2027 and January 18, 2028 (January 15 falls on a weekend). Check the dates against the IRS Form 1040-ES once it's published.

Can I deduct gas if I take the standard mileage rate?

No. The standard mileage rate already covers gas, repairs, insurance and depreciation. Parking, tolls, the business share of your phone bill and delivery gear can still be deducted separately.