Gig Worker Tax Estimator
Estimate the tax on 1099 gig income across platforms, with mileage and expense write-offs.
| Platform Source | Earnings |
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| Description | Category | Amount |
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Gig platforms report your earnings on 1099s but withhold nothing, so the tax is yours to plan for. This estimator pulls together income from several platforms, subtracts your mileage and business expenses, and calculates the self-employment tax plus the extra income tax the gig work stacks on top of any day job. Add each platform's gross revenue, log your business miles and expenses, set your filing status and state, and it returns your net profit, total estimated tax, effective rate, and a quarterly payment. It all runs in your browser — your figures never leave your device.
The calculation, step by step
Your platform earnings are summed, then reduced by two kinds of write-off: a mileage deduction and any other expenses you list. The mileage deduction uses a standard rate of $0.70 per business mile. What is left is your net profit, which drives both taxes.
Net profit = gross gig income − (business miles × $0.70) − other expenses
Self-employment tax applies to 92.35% of net profit (12.4% Social Security up to a combined $176,100 wage ceiling, plus 2.9% Medicare). The tool then takes a 20% qualified business income (QBI) deduction and stacks the remaining profit on your W-2 wages to find the extra federal income tax:
Added federal tax = tax(W-2 + net profit − ½ SE tax − QBI) − tax(W-2 alone)
With $12,000 in gig income, 2,000 business miles (a $1,400 write-off) and $440 of other expenses, net profit is $10,160. Self-employment tax is about $1,436, the added income tax after QBI is roughly $906, and the total lands near $2,342 — about a 23% effective rate on profit, or quarterly payments around $586.
Reading the dashboard
The hero figure is your total estimated 1099 tax. Beneath it, Effective Rate is that tax divided by net profit, Net Take-home is profit minus tax, and Quarterly Payment is a quarter of the total, since gig workers generally owe estimated taxes four times a year. The breakdown separates self-employment tax, the stacked federal income tax, and state tax, and the savings box values your write-offs at your combined self-employment, marginal, and state rates — a reminder that a tracked mile or expense shields more than just income tax. Your day-job salary matters here because it sets the bracket your gig profit is taxed in.
Assumptions worth knowing
This is an estimate for planning, not tax advice. The $0.70 mileage rate is the 2025 IRS standard business rate; the IRS sets the standard mileage rate each year, so check the current rate before relying on it. The 20% QBI deduction is applied as a flat rate and does not model the income thresholds and business-type limits that can reduce or remove it. State tax is a flat approximation of systems that are usually progressive, and you can enter a custom rate instead. The federal brackets and standard deduction reflect recent tax-year figures the IRS adjusts annually. Actual mileage rules require contemporaneous logs, and your real liability depends on your full return — a tax professional can confirm the specifics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this estimator save my earnings or send them anywhere?
No. Every calculation happens in your browser. Your platform earnings, mileage and expenses are never uploaded or stored, and refreshing the page clears the list.
Should I deduct mileage or actual car costs?
This tool uses the standard mileage rate, which multiplies your business miles by a set per-mile amount and is simpler to track. The alternative — deducting actual gas, maintenance and depreciation by business-use percentage — can be larger for expensive vehicles but needs detailed records. Compare both before you file.
Why does my day-job salary change the gig tax?
Because gig profit is taxed on top of your wages. A higher salary pushes that profit into a higher marginal bracket, so the same gig income can trigger more federal tax for someone who also earns a large W-2.
Is this tax or financial advice?
No. It is general information for planning only. Mileage rates and tax figures change yearly, the QBI and state pieces are simplified, and your real taxes depend on your complete situation. Consult a qualified tax professional.