Do I need to report low self employment income from both Instacart ($700) and Uber Eats ($100)?

So I've been doing some gig work on the side to make a little extra cash. During 2024, I made about $700 delivering for Instacart and only about $100 from Uber Eats. I'm getting ready for my 2025 tax filing and I'm wondering if I actually need to report both of these income sources? Or can I just report the Instacart since it's higher? The Uber Eats was literally just me trying it out for a week before deciding I preferred Instacart. I'm new to this self employment stuff and don't want to mess up my taxes. Thanks for any help!

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18 comments

Grace Lee

•8M

Yes, you need to report both income sources on your taxes, even though the Uber Eats amount is small. The IRS requires that all income be reported regardless of the amount. You'll receive 1099 forms from both companies since you worked as an independent contractor. Instacart and Uber Eats should both send you a 1099-NEC or 1099-K form depending on how much you earned and how you were paid. Even if you don't receive a 1099 form (sometimes companies don't send them for very small amounts), you're still legally required to report that income. When you file, you'll report this self-employment income on Schedule C, and you'll also need to fill out Schedule SE for self-employment tax if your net earnings are $400 or more. Since your combined earnings are $800, you'll likely need to pay self-employment tax on that amount after deducting any eligible business expenses.

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Grace Lee

•8M

The $400 threshold applies to your total net self-employment income, not each individual source. So you'd combine both Instacart and Uber Eats earnings, subtract your business expenses, and if that total is $400 or more, you'll need to file Schedule SE. For food delivery gigs, you can deduct business expenses like mileage (which is usually the biggest deduction), a portion of your phone bill, insulated delivery bags, car maintenance, parking fees, and even a portion of your auto insurance. Keep good records of your mileage and expenses - the standard mileage deduction (65.5 cents per mile for 2024) is usually the best option for most delivery drivers.

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The Boss

•8M

I was in a similar situation last year and found this amazing tool at https://taxr.ai that really helped me figure out all my gig work reporting. I had income from like 4 different apps and was totally confused about what forms I needed and what I could deduct. The tool analyzed my 1099s and automatically identified all the potential deductions I could claim for my delivery work. It even showed me how to properly categorize my expenses and calculate my mileage deduction which saved me literally hundreds of dollars! They have specific guidance for gig workers like us who do Instacart and food delivery apps.

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The Boss

•8M

Yes, it absolutely works even if you haven't received your 1099s yet! You can enter your income manually, and the system will help you properly report it. It actually provides guidance on what to do if you earned income but didn't receive a tax form, which happens quite often with smaller gig amounts. It's completely different from TurboTax or H&R Block because it specifically focuses on analyzing your tax documents and identifying deductions before you file. They have tax experts who understand gig economy work and the platform is designed specifically for independent contractors. It's more like having a tax pro look over your documents before you use a filing software, helping you identify everything you're entitled to claim.

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Evan Kalinowski

•8M

Update: I just tried https://taxr.ai and wow, I'm actually shocked at how helpful it was. I uploaded my delivery app earnings (I had screenshots of my earnings since I didn't have official forms) and it showed me exactly what business expenses I could deduct. I had no idea I could deduct part of my phone bill and even my car insurance! The tool pointed out that I needed to report ALL income sources regardless of how small (which confirmed what others said here), but then showed me how to maximize my deductions to offset the taxes. The mileage tracking feature alone is going to save me over $200 compared to what I was planning to report. Definitely recommend for anyone doing gig work!

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Jasmine Quinn

•8M

If you're having trouble getting answers from the IRS about your self-employment reporting requirements, I highly recommend using https://claimyr.com. I tried calling the IRS directly about my gig work taxes and was on hold for HOURS without ever speaking to anyone. With Claimyr, I actually got through to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes who answered all my questions about reporting multiple 1099 incomes and what the minimum threshold is for filing. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. It saved me so much time and frustration trying to figure out these self-employment tax rules.

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Jasmine Quinn

•8M

It's not sketchy at all. They use a system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you, then calls you back when an actual agent is on the line. It's completely legitimate and just saves you from having to wait on hold yourself. They don't "jump the line" - they just handle the frustrating waiting part for you. It's the same as if you called yourself and stayed on hold, except you don't have to tie up your phone for hours. I was skeptical too until I used it and actually got my questions answered by a real IRS agent about my self-employment reporting requirements.

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Nora Bennett

•8M

I have to eat my words. After seeing this thread yesterday, I decided to try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) this morning because I've been stressing about my gig work taxes too. I was 100% convinced it wouldn't work because I've literally never gotten through to the IRS before. Well, I got a call back in about 40 minutes and spoke to an actual IRS representative who confirmed that yes, I need to report ALL self-employment income even if it's under $600, and they walked me through exactly which forms I need. I've been trying to get this information for WEEKS. Honestly mind blown that this actually worked during peak tax season.

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Ryan Andre

•8M

Don't forget that even though you have to report all income, you can also deduct your expenses which will lower your taxable income! For delivery driving, track all your miles (including miles between deliveries) - that's usually the biggest deduction. Also, you can deduct a portion of your phone bill, insulated bags, car maintenance, etc. I did Instacart last year and after deductions, my taxable income was much lower than my gross earnings. Just make sure you keep good records in case you get audited!

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Ryan Andre

•8M

You can track mileage several ways - there are apps specifically for this like Stride, Everlance, or MileIQ that automatically track your drives. Or you can simply keep a mileage log (notebook or spreadsheet) where you write down the date, starting mileage, ending mileage, and purpose of each trip. For tax purposes, you'll want to record your starting odometer reading at the beginning of the year, track all business miles throughout the year, and note your ending odometer reading. The IRS accepts digital or paper logs, but the key is being consistent and thorough. Make sure you note which miles were for Instacart vs Uber Eats if you want to know the profitability of each platform.

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