Is there a simple way to do taxes for gig work and mileage deductions?

You're mixing up a few things, but don't worry - it's actually simpler than you think! First, your W-2 income ($14k) and your gig work (1099) income ($23k) are reported separately on your tax return. The W-2 income goes on one part of your Form 1040, and your gig income goes on Schedule C. For your gig work: Yes, you can deduct your business mileage! On Schedule C, you'll report your total gig income of $23k, then deduct your business expenses including the $10,140 for mileage. This gives you your net profit from self-employment, which then gets reported on your 1040. The IRS doesn't automatically take money from your bank account if you make a mistake. If they find an error, they'll typically send you a letter explaining the issue and what you owe. You'll have time to respond or pay. Would you be comfortable using tax software? Something like FreeTaxUSA or TaxSlayer can walk you through this step by step and is much easier than trying to figure out the forms yourself.

After struggling with similar gig work tax issues last year, I finally tried taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it made everything so much easier! I uploaded my 1099s and it automatically identified all potential deductions I could claim, including mileage. The best part is it walks you through exactly how to fill out Schedule C and SE forms with step-by-step guidance. I was confused about separating my W-2 income from my gig work too, and it explained everything in super simple terms. It even showed me which specific lines to put everything on and calculated my self-employment tax automatically.

I was super skeptical about taxr.ai at first, but after struggling with my gig work taxes for hours, I gave it a try. Total game changer! It actually showed me that I was calculating my mileage deduction wrong AND missing several other deductions for my DoorDash work. The interface walked me through reporting both my W-2 job and gig work income, showed exactly where to put everything, and calculated my self-employment tax automatically. It even explained the quarterly estimated tax payments I need to make this year to avoid penalties. For anyone confused about gig work taxes like I was - seriously worth checking out. Ended up getting about $800 more on my refund than I would have filing on my own because I was missing so many legitimate deductions!

If you're still having trouble and want to speak directly with the IRS, try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was stuck in the same endless phone loop hell trying to sort out my gig work tax questions, then found this service that gets you through to an actual human at the IRS usually within 15 minutes. Check out their demo: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I used it when I was confused about how to handle my mileage deduction and whether I needed to amend my previous year's return. Instead of waiting on hold for hours or never getting through, I was speaking with an IRS agent who answered all my questions in about 15 minutes.

Ok I have to eat my words about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment I decided to try it because I was desperate to fix an issue with my gig work taxes from last year. I was 100% sure it wouldn't work or would be a waste of money. I was SHOCKED when I was talking to an actual IRS agent in about 12 minutes after trying for literally weeks to get through on my own. The agent walked me through exactly how to report my gig income, how to handle the mileage deduction, and confirmed that I needed to file Schedule C and SE forms. They even helped me understand how much I should be setting aside for quarterly estimated taxes this year (about 25-30% of my gig income after deductions). Honestly the best money I've spent in a long time considering how much stress it saved me.

Another option: Consider using a tax professional who specializes in gig workers. I paid about $200 to an accountant who specifically works with Uber/Lyft/DoorDash folks, and she saved me WAY more than that in deductions I didn't know I could take. Besides mileage, did you know you can potentially deduct a portion of your phone bill? Car insurance? Even snacks/water if you provide them to passengers? The right professional can walk you through all of this.

Quick tip: Download the Stride app to track your mileage automatically. I drive for multiple apps and it's been a lifesaver. Just hit "start work" when you begin and "end work" when you're done. At tax time, it gives you a report with all your business miles and the deduction amount.

I totally understand the frustration! I went through the same confusion with my gig work taxes last year. Here's what I learned that might help: Your W-2 income and 1099 gig work are reported separately - don't try to combine them. The W-2 goes on the main 1040 form, and your gig income goes on Schedule C where you can deduct your business expenses. For your mileage, you're on the right track! You can deduct either actual vehicle expenses OR the standard mileage rate (currently $0.655 per mile for 2023). Since you tracked 15,600 miles, that's about $10,218 in deductions, which is substantial. Don't stress too much about making mistakes - the IRS typically sends letters first if there are issues, not immediate bank account seizures. They actually want to help you get it right. One thing that saved me: keep detailed records of everything. Besides mileage, you might be able to deduct things like phone bills (business portion), car washes, parking fees, and even some supplies. The key is having documentation. Have you considered using tax software specifically designed for gig workers? It can walk you through Schedule C step-by-step and make sure you don't miss any deductions. Much less stressful than trying to figure out the forms manually!