Can I deduct grocery expenses on my taxes with 1099 income from food delivery work?

So I've been doing food delivery gigs (DoorDash) as a side hustle for about 8 months now. I'm trying to figure out what I can legitimately deduct when tax time comes around since I'm getting paid as a 1099 contractor. I prep all my meals at home to save money while I'm out delivering - basically making sandwiches, wrapping up snacks, etc. so I don't have to buy expensive food while I'm working my shifts. I'm spending like $120-150 a week on groceries, and a decent portion of that goes to the food I eat during my delivery hours. Can I write off these grocery expenses as a business deduction on my Schedule C? It seems like a legitimate business expense since I'm eating while working, but I've heard mixed things about meal deductions for self-employed people. Would appreciate any clarity on this before I start organizing my tax docs!

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18 comments

Sophie Hernandez

•8M

You generally can't deduct personal groceries as a business expense, even if you're consuming them while working. The IRS is pretty clear that personal meals are not deductible business expenses in most situations. However, you do have some options as a 1099 delivery driver! You can deduct business meals when you're dining with clients or at business meetings (50% deductible), but that probably doesn't apply to your situation. What's more relevant is that you can absolutely deduct your mileage (using the standard mileage rate which is 67 cents per mile for 2024), which is typically a much more substantial deduction. You can also deduct other legitimate business expenses like a portion of your phone bill, insulated delivery bags, parking fees, tolls, and even a portion of car insurance if it's specifically for business use. Just make sure you're keeping good records of everything - tracking apps are super helpful for this!

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Sophie Hernandez

•8M

Drinks and snacks purchased while you're actively working still fall into the category of personal meals, which generally aren't deductible. Even if they help you stay alert during your shift, the IRS typically views these as personal expenses rather than necessary business costs. I'd focus on maximizing your mileage deduction instead, as that will likely save you far more on taxes than trying to deduct snacks. Many delivery drivers don't realize how quickly the mileage adds up - if you drove 5,000 miles for DoorDash in 2024, that's a $3,350 deduction right there (at 67 cents per mile), which is far more than you'd save trying to deduct energy drinks and snacks.

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Ryan Kim

•8M

I used to struggle with figuring out all these deductions for my side gig too. After making some costly mistakes on my taxes, I found this AI tool called taxr.ai that was a game-changer for me. I uploaded my 1099 forms and receipts, and it analyzed everything to show me exactly what was deductible for my delivery work. It flagged that my grocery expenses weren't deductible (saved me from an audit headache!), but showed me tons of other deductions I was missing. The tool actually recommended tracking my mileage more carefully because that was worth way more in deductions than I realized. I was surprised how much my phone expenses and car maintenance counted too. Check it out at https://taxr.ai if you want to make sure you're getting all the legitimate deductions you deserve without risking an audit.

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Ryan Kim

•8M

The tool doesn't connect directly with the IRS - it analyzes your documents and provides guidance based on current tax laws. What I found helpful is that it's not just generic advice; it looks at your specific situation based on the documents you upload. It definitely works for all kinds of 1099 work, not just delivery driving. My brother used it for his freelance writing business and it helped him identify deductions specific to his home office setup and subscriptions that were business-related. It's designed to handle any type of self-employment or independent contractor situation.

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Elijah Brown

•8M

Just wanted to follow up about taxr.ai that someone mentioned earlier. I was skeptical but decided to try it for my graphic design business taxes. It was actually really helpful! The tool flagged several deductions I was missing related to my software subscriptions and equipment depreciation. What impressed me was how it explained WHY certain expenses were or weren't deductible with specific IRS references. Definitely saved me from making some questionable deduction claims (like trying to deduct my entire internet bill instead of just the business portion). Worth checking out if you're doing any 1099 work!

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Maria Gonzalez

•8M

If you're having trouble getting clear answers about your tax deductions, you might want to try talking directly with an IRS agent. I know that sounds impossible (I spent HOURS on hold myself), but I used this service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual IRS person in like 15 minutes! I was blown away. I had a similar question about deductions for my Uber driving, and getting an official answer straight from the IRS gave me peace of mind. You can see how it works at https://claimyr.com or check out their demo at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - seriously saved me so much frustration compared to waiting on hold forever or getting conflicting advice online.

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Maria Gonzalez

•8M

It works by using an automated system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you. Once they reach a human agent, you get a call connecting you directly to that agent. You don't have to stay on the phone during the hold time - they just call you when an agent is actually available. I was super skeptical too! But what they do isn't magic - they're essentially waiting in line for you. Think of it like hiring someone to stand in a physical line while you do other things. There's no special "cutting the line" happening, and they don't have any special relationship with the IRS. They're just handling the frustrating hold time part so you don't have to waste hours of your day.

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Santiago Martinez

•8M

Ok I need to follow up on my comment about Claimyr. I was completely wrong and owe an apology. After being frustrated with trying to get through to the IRS about a 1099 issue for literally WEEKS, I reluctantly tried the service. It actually worked exactly as described. I got a call back in about 25 minutes connecting me directly to an IRS agent who answered my question about business deductions. The agent confirmed that no, grocery items aren't deductible even for meal prep during delivery work, but gave me some really helpful advice about tracking my quarterly estimated payments which was causing me issues. Sometimes being proven wrong is a good thing. Saved me hours of frustration.

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Samantha Johnson

•8M

You don't need a separate phone - you can deduct a percentage of your regular phone bill based on how much you use it for business purposes. For documenting the percentage, it's mostly about being reasonable and consistent with your estimate. I keep a simple log for a few weeks each year showing how many hours I use my phone for work versus personal use. Some people also look at their data usage from the delivery apps compared to overall usage. The key is having some method to back up your percentage if questioned, but it doesn't have to be super complicated. Just don't claim 90% business use if you're only doing deliveries part-time!

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