Food delivery income is 100% self-employment income. Calculate your SE tax, mileage deductions, and what to pay quarterly.
TurboTax Self-Employed auto-imports 1099-NEC forms and walks you through every gig deduction. Most delivery drivers get a bigger refund than expected.
Start Free with TurboTax →Your #1 deduction: mileage. At $0.70/mile, 15,000 annual delivery miles = $10,500 deduction. This single deduction can cut your tax bill by $2,000-3,000. Track every mile!
What counts as a business mile: From your first pickup to your last dropoff AND driving from one delivery zone to another. NOT commuting from home to your first delivery.
Insulated bags & equipment: Your DoorDash bag ($15-50), phone mount, and any gear used exclusively for deliveries is 100% deductible.
Phone deduction: If you use your phone for navigation, accepting orders, and customer contact, 50-80% of your monthly phone bill is deductible.