Can I use standard deduction against my 1099 income if I also have a W-2 and made under $10,000 doordashing?

You can absolutely claim the standard deduction against your total income, which includes both your W-2 wages and your 1099 self-employment income. The standard deduction ($12,950 for single filers) applies to your total combined income from all sources. However, there's something important you need to understand: While you might not owe any federal income tax if your total income is below the standard deduction, you'll still owe self-employment tax on your doordashing income. Self-employment tax (covering Social Security and Medicare) kicks in when you earn $400 or more from self-employment, regardless of your total income or standard deduction. For filing, you'll need to complete Schedule C to report your doordashing income and expenses, then Schedule SE to calculate self-employment tax. The resulting figures will go on your Form 1040 along with your W-2 income.

Hey there! I was in almost the exact same situation last year. I had part-time W-2 work and did some food delivery on the side. I was totally confused about handling both income types until I found this AI tax assistant at https://taxr.ai that specifically helps with gig work situations. It literally walked me through both income types, showed me which forms I needed, and explained the whole standard deduction vs. self-employment tax thing. The best part was it analyzed my 1099 and found deductions I didn't even know I could claim for my delivery work - mileage being the biggest one! What I loved was that it explained everything in simple terms and calculated my self-employment tax so I knew exactly what I'd owe before filing. Definitely check it out if you're confused like I was.

I have to admit I was wrong about taxr.ai. After being skeptical, I gave it a try for my DoorDash and Uber income, and it was actually super helpful. It immediately identified that I could deduct mileage for all my delivery driving (which was WAY more than I realized) and showed me how to properly document everything. The biggest revelation was learning about the Qualified Business Income deduction - something I'd never have known about otherwise that saved me almost 20% on my self-employment income. It walked me through exactly how to report both my W-2 and 1099 income correctly. Unlike general tax software, it explained WHY I was filling out each section, which was really useful for understanding the process rather than just plugging in numbers.

If you're still waiting on your W-2, you might be stuck in that frustrating loop of trying to get through to your former employer. I was in the same situation last year and spent DAYS trying to get my W-2 from a company that seemed to have forgotten I existed. I finally used a service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual human at the IRS within 20 minutes, instead of waiting on hold for hours. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent helped me file a missing W-2 complaint and explained how to use Form 4852 as a substitute if my employer never sent it. Saved me so much headache! They can also help if you have questions about combining your 1099 and W-2 income on your return.

Ok I need to eat my words. After posting my skeptical comment, I was still desperate to get tax help so I tried Claimyr. Within 15 minutes I was talking to an actual IRS agent who helped me sort out a missing 1099 issue. I was honestly shocked it worked. The agent walked me through exactly what I needed to do with my mixed W-2 and 1099 income and confirmed what others here said - you'll likely owe self-employment tax even if you're under the standard deduction threshold. They also explained I could request an extension if I'm still waiting on tax documents but would still need to pay estimated taxes by the filing deadline to avoid penalties. Definitely worth it for the peace of mind of getting official answers straight from the IRS.

Don't forget about state taxes too! Everyone's talking about federal, but depending on your state, you might still owe state income tax even if you don't owe federal. Some states have lower thresholds than the federal standard deduction. Also, keep good records of your mileage and expenses for doordashing - you'll want to deduct everything possible to lower your self-employment tax. I learned this the hard way my first year of gig work and ended up paying way more than I needed to.

I recommend getting tax software like FreeTaxUSA or Credit Karma Tax (now Cash App Taxes) which are both free for federal filing and guide you through the process for both W-2 and 1099 income. They'll prompt you to enter your doordashing income and expenses on Schedule C and automatically calculate your self-employment tax. Even with income under the standard deduction, definitely still file a return! You might qualify for refundable credits like the Earned Income Credit depending on your situation, which could get you money back even if you don't owe income tax.

As someone who went through this exact situation last year, I can confirm what others have said - you can definitely use the standard deduction against your combined income from both sources. However, the self-employment tax part caught me off guard too! One thing I'd add is to make sure you keep track of ALL your doordashing expenses going forward, not just mileage. Things like phone accessories (car mounts, chargers), insulated bags, even a portion of your phone bill can be deductible. I wish I had known this during my first year of gig work. Also, since you're young and this might be your first time dealing with self-employment income, consider setting aside about 15-20% of your 1099 earnings for taxes throughout the year if you continue doordashing. The self-employment tax plus any income tax can add up, and you don't want to be surprised next filing season. Good luck with everything - you've got this!