What this calculator does
DoorDash sends dashers a 1099-NEC or a 1099-K instead of a W-2, and no tax is withheld. This calculator starts from the amount on that form, takes off your business miles and other costs, and estimates the tax on what is left for the 2026 tax year: self-employment tax, federal income tax and state income tax.
Which number to enter
On a 1099-NEC, use Box 1, nonemployee compensation. On a 1099-K, use the gross amount. If DoorDash paid you money that is not on the form, it is still income; add it.
The rules it applies
- Self-employment tax. 15.3% (12.4% Social Security, 2.9% Medicare) on 92.35% of net earnings.
- Business miles. $0.725 a mile, the 2026 standard mileage rate for January to June, added to your business expenses. It is $0.76 from July 1; using the lower rate for every mile keeps the estimate on the cautious side.
- Income tax. Half of the self-employment tax comes off, then the standard deduction and the qualified business income (QBI) deduction of up to 20%, then the 2026 federal brackets.
- State tax. The state's flat rate where it has one, otherwise a typical rate, for the state saved in the full estimator. California is used until you choose your own.
How to read the result
The large figure is the estimated tax on your DoorDash income for the year. Net earnings is your profit after expenses; self-employment tax is worked out from it. The quarterly figure is the total divided by four, and the percentage is the tax as a share of the 1099 amount.
What it does not do
- It does not read the form for you or check it against DoorDash's records.
- It does not ask about tips. Dashers can claim the tips deduction added by the 2025 tax law (P.L. 119-21); switch it on in step 3 of the full estimator.
- It assumes DoorDash income is your only income. Use the full estimator to add other costs and deductions.
An example
Example. A single dasher in Texas has $28,000 in Box 1 of a 1099-NEC, drove 12,000 business miles and spent $500 on a hot bag and phone costs. Net earnings are $18,800.
Self-employment tax is $2,656 and federal income tax is $-61. Texas has no state income tax, so the total estimated tax is $2,596, 9.3% of the 1099 amount, or about $649 a quarter.
Do you need to pay quarterly?
If you expect to owe $1,000 or more for the year after withholding and credits, the IRS generally expects quarterly payments (IRS Publication 505). If you also have a W-2 job, raising the withholding there is another way to cover the tax on your dashing income.
The DoorDash tax guide lists the deductions dashers commonly claim.
Before you rely on it
These are estimates for planning, not tax advice. GigWorkerTax is not connected to the IRS or to any gig platform. Every figure and its source is on the methodology page; see also the disclaimer, and talk to a licensed tax professional about your own return. More guides are on the guides page.