13 critical tax deduction tips for rideshare drivers
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People who decide to leave their day jobs, and take on rideshare driving as a full-time gig, may need some help transitioning away from their typical bi-monthly paychecks. When working on a salary, all taxes and Social Security/Medicare is automatically removed. But as an independent contractor, the responsibility falls on the driver and tax season goes a little differently. Just to name a few examples, this applies to those who drive for other on-demand delivery services like Uber, Lyft, Postmates, DoorDash, Instacart and Shipt as well.
The good news is that as a self-employed independent contractor, there are a ton of tax deductions and incentives that can lessen the tax man’s bill.
Here are a few tips and tricks to legally keep your taxes as low as possible.
1. Keep a detailed mileage log
Although it’ll take a bit of your time, keeping a mileage log is imperative. As of 2019, the IRS allows you to deduct $0.58 per mile driven on a vehicle for business purposes, but in order to do this, you must keep detailed records. There are a number of apps you can use to help you accurately record your rideshare driving expenses as well, saving you a lot of time and stress as April 15th rolls around.
We recommend using Hurdlr. It is a great app to help you track mileage to ensure easier tax return filing. Not only does it auto-track mileage and expenses, but it also offers real-time views of earnings and potential tax deductions. You can gain insights to real-time profit and loss reports as well.
2. Make estimated payments
The IRS expects independent contractors to pay their tax bill quarterly (in 4 installments). For those who expect to owe at least $1,000 in taxes, the IRS imposes penalties if you don’t pay enough estimated tax. To find out your estimated tax liability, go to bankrate.com.
3. Report everything you earn
It can be tempting to keep a little extra for yourself, and not file it with your taxes – especially when someone slips you a $20 bill. Report it all. The trouble you’d get in if caught isn’t any near worth a couple of extra dollars you’d save cheating the IRS.
4. Keep any records for 3 to 7 years
The IRS has a tendency to revisit a person’s past tax returns and look for mistakes. Audits have a statute of limitations of three years, but it is always better to keep things for a bit longer if it might help clear things up. The traditional rule of thumb was seven years, and many people still stick to that.
5. Car washes and maintenance
A driver’s car is a vital piece of equipment for their business. General maintenance, upkeep and car washes can be deducted. Making sure your car looks sharp is also important for keeping up that level of cleanliness that passengers expect.
6. Deduct your car payment
A lot of rideshare drivers purchase a new car and pay it off by driving it. It’s a great idea, and since the car is being used for business you can also deduct a portion of your car payment (even if it’s a lease) proportional to its business use.
7. You can deduct the snacks you have for passengers
The IRS allows you to deduct business-related entertainment. But while drivers aren’t allowed to claim their own meals during work on taxes, they can claim up to 50% on snacks and drinks provided to their passengers.
8. Claim your parking fees
Paying things like tolls and parking can be claimed on a driver’s taxes, so make sure to keep track of these. Getting a ticket for illegal parking or traffic infractions, however, can’t be claimed. Be mindful of traffic and parking laws to avoid extra expenses.
9. Understand your state’s tax laws and requirements
Each state will have different tax laws and regulations. Take the time to learn them and follow them as closely as you would federal tax law. A state’s revenue service might not have the same high intimidation factor as the IRS, but they have just as much authority and power to enforce the law.
10. Eco-friendly car credit
The federal government and some states offer tax credits to drivers of certain hybrid and electric cars. You can claim up to $7,500 in credit for your qualifying vehicle. See the list of the eligible vehicles here.
11. Insurance
Rideshare drivers who face certain insurance limits. For instance, not all states recognize rideshare insurance policies, although most major carriers do offer it. Look into your state’s regulations and your insurance to make sure you’re eligible for a deductible.
12. License, title, and tags
If your state bases its registration on vehicle value (instead of weight) and charges the tax annually, you may be eligible to deduct a portion of your registration fees. The requirements vary by state, so make sure to check in with your state’s regulations to make the most of this deduction.
13. Wireless plan
You can deduct a proportional amount of your cell phone wireless plan from your taxes. Most drivers use the same cell phone for business and personal, but if you have a separate phone for rideshare purposes only it might be easier to keep track of your business calls/texts, and that way you can write off your entire phone bill during tax season.
To take advantage of all of these great options, you want to find yourself a good accountant. Make a small investment to hire a professional who will guide you through the steps above to make sure you optimize your tax returns as an independent contractor.
By the way, we are not tax professionals. The information contained in this article is friendly financial advice related to rideshare driver income taxes that we hope you will find helpful. Please consult a tax professional if you have questions about calculating and/or filing your taxes.
