Missing tax form as Uber Eats delivery driver - how do I file without a 1099-NEC?

Is there a minimum amount you need to make before you have to report it? I only did like 10 deliveries with DoorDash last year and made maybe $200 total. Do I still need to file all this schedule C stuff?

There is no minimum threshold for reporting income - the IRS requires you to report all income regardless of amount. Even with just $200, you should still report it on Schedule C. The $600 threshold is only for when companies are required to send you a 1099 form, not for when you need to report income. However, if you made less than $400 in self-employment income for the year, you won't owe self-employment tax, though you'll still include it in your total income for income tax purposes.

Does it help with mileage tracking too? I've been doing Uber Eats since November and I'm terrible at keeping track of my miles. I know I'm supposed to, but honestly I just accept orders and go without writing anything down.

I'm a bit skeptical... does it actually connect with freetaxusa or do you still have to manually enter everything? I've got earnings from Uber Eats, Instacart AND Amazon Flex so I'm dealing with multiple platforms and it's a nightmare.

It doesn't track miles in real-time like some apps do, but it helps you estimate reasonable mileage based on your delivery history and location data if you have that. For many people who didn't keep perfect records, this feature is a lifesaver for getting legitimate deductions. For multiple gig platforms, that's actually where it really shines. You can upload summaries from all your platforms (Uber Eats, Instacart, Amazon Flex, etc.) and it consolidates everything into one organized report. It doesn't directly connect with freetaxusa, but it gives you a simple breakdown of exactly what numbers to enter where, which I found super helpful when entering everything manually.

Wait, is this legit? How does this even work? The IRS phone system is notoriously impossible to navigate. Are you saying this somehow gets you past the queue?

Sounds like BS honestly. I highly doubt any service can magically get through to the IRS when millions of people can't. They probably just connect you to some random "tax expert" who's not actually with the IRS at all. I'd be very cautious about this.

Yes, it's completely legitimate! It uses a technology that continuously redials and navigates the IRS phone tree until it gets through to an agent. Then it calls you and connects you directly. It's not a different number or special access - it just handles the frustrating waiting and navigating for you. I was extremely skeptical too, but it's not connecting you to random "experts" - you're talking to actual IRS agents. When I used it, I got connected to an IRS employee named Timothy who had been working there for 7 years. He verified my information just like any normal IRS call and answered all my questions about my Uber Eats income reporting. I saved literally hours of my life not sitting on hold.

Thank you! I checked and yes, you're right about the 1099-K - I definitely wasn't anywhere near that threshold. I didn't realize there was such a big difference between the forms they might send. Looking at my earnings summary more carefully, I see it does break down everything pretty well. Kinda wish they would make this more clear to drivers though! Appreciate your help on this.

Did you have to pay back taxes because of the audit? I'm worried because I barely kept any records last year...

Yes, I did have to pay back quite a bit. I had claimed about 8,000 miles but could only prove about 3,000 with the limited records I had. The difference in deductions meant I owed about $950 in back taxes plus some penalties and interest. Now I use an automatic tracking app that logs every trip and I categorize them right away as business or personal. I also keep a backup paper log in my glove compartment just in case. The IRS is definitely looking more closely at gig workers these days, so good documentation is essential.

This is really helpful advice! I'm new to gig work and just started doing DoorDash deliveries a few weeks ago. I had no idea about the mileage deduction - that sounds like it could save a lot of money! Quick question: when you say "reasonable estimates" for mileage, how detailed does that need to be? Like do I need to know the exact route for every delivery, or can I estimate based on general distance to restaurants and delivery areas? I'm worried about getting audited if my estimates aren't perfect. Also, is there a difference between how Uber Eats and DoorDash handle their tax reporting? I might switch platforms and want to make sure I understand what to expect.

Great questions! For mileage estimates, you don't need exact routes for every delivery, but you should be as reasonable and conservative as possible. I typically estimated based on average distances between pickup locations and delivery zones in my area, then multiplied by the number of deliveries. Keep any records you do have (like screenshots of total deliveries from the app) to support your calculations. The key is being able to explain your methodology if asked. For example, "I averaged 4 miles per delivery based on typical restaurant-to-customer distances in my delivery area, multiplied by 150 total deliveries." The IRS understands that gig workers don't always have perfect records, but they want to see you made a good-faith effort to be accurate. As for platform differences, most gig companies (Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub, etc.) handle tax reporting similarly. They'll send 1099-NEC if you earn over $600, or 1099-K if you meet higher thresholds. The earnings summaries they provide are usually formatted differently, but the tax treatment is the same - you'll report everything on Schedule C regardless of platform. My advice: start tracking miles now with an app like Stride or even just a simple notebook. It'll save you so much stress next tax season!