The Bay Area Gig Driver Tax & Mileage Kit (2026)
7-page printable PDF · Updated October 2026 with the IRS mid-year rate change
Most app drivers are independent contractors, so nobody withholds tax for you, and your car is usually your biggest deduction. That deduction only holds up if you log your miles as you go. This kit gives you the logs, the checklists and the 2026 numbers in one place, written for Bay Area drivers.
2026 is a weird year: the IRS business mileage rate is 72.5¢/mile for January to June and 76¢/mile for July to December (IRS Announcement 2026-11). If you've been using one number all year, the kit shows you how to split it.
What's inside
- 2026 IRS mileage rates, with sources, and how to split your miles by half-year
- What usually counts as a business mile, what's a gray area (dead miles, your first trip of the day) and what's personal
- Standard mileage vs. actual expenses side by side, plus a note on weekly gig-car rentals
- Bay Area specifics: FasTrak and bridge tolls, SF/Oakland parking, why Prop 22 "engaged miles" are not your tax miles
- Federal (1040-ES) and California (540-ES) estimated-tax calendar, including CA's 30/40/0/30 split
- Receipt and record checklist, a printable weekly mileage log, a monthly summary and a year-end checklist
- Six questions to bring to your tax pro
Who it's for
DoorDash, Uber Eats, Uber, Lyft, Instacart and Amazon Flex drivers in the Bay Area, whether you're starting out or already dreading April.
Get it
$12
Instant PDF download after purchase. Bundle it with the Bay Area Dasher Tips guide or the Gig Worker Playbook.
Not ready yet? Grab the free 1-page Weekly Money Checklist →
The fine print
This kit is general education and organizing worksheets. It is not tax, legal or financial advice, and it doesn't promise any deduction, refund or income result. Tax rules change and every situation is different, so confirm your numbers with a qualified tax professional (CPA or EA) and the IRS/FTB sources listed in the kit.