How Much to Set Aside for Taxes From DoorDash or Uber

Use the free tool — Side-Income Tax Planner

Why side income taxes catch people off guard

Uber on weekends. DoorDash after work. A cleaning route. Hair on Saturdays. Nobody withholds taxes from any of this. Unlike a W-2 job, no one sends money to the IRS on your behalf every payday. That means it's on you to save from what you earn, and April is where it often goes wrong for people who didn't plan for it.

How much to set aside each week

There is no single number that fits everyone. How much you should set aside depends on what you make, what it costs you to do the work, and whether you also have a W-2 job. A plan built from your own numbers — what you earn and what you spend on your side work — can turn that into a percentage to move to savings from every payout, using current IRS rates. Treat that percentage as a starting point, not a final answer.

The four quarterly payment dates

Self-employed and gig workers are generally expected to pay estimated taxes four times a year, based on Form 1040-ES guidance. A plan can calculate your quarterly estimated-payment amount and the four dates tied to it from your numbers. Because it only knows what you entered, confirm the exact dates and amounts with the IRS or a tax professional before you pay.

Deductions gig workers miss

Schedule C and Schedule SE rules include deductions that many gig workers overlook — mileage is one of the most common things to track. A plan can surface deductions from the numbers you give it, but it's an estimate, not a review of your complete financial picture. A tax professional can confirm what actually applies to you.

What to keep track of

Miles driven for work
What you earn from each side job
What you spend to do the work
Whether you also have a W-2 job

Keeping these records means April is a form, not a surprise.

What to do next

This free tool reads your own numbers — what you make and what you spend on driving, delivering, cleaning, cutting hair, or freelancing — and turns them into a plan: a weekly set-aside percentage, your quarterly estimated-payment amount, the four due dates, and the deductions you may be missing. Your first plan is free.

This is an estimate, not tax advice. It doesn't know your full return. Confirm with a tax professional or the IRS before you rely on it.

Use the free tool

Side-Income Tax Planner is an educational estimating tool based on publicly available IRS guidance (Schedule C, Schedule SE, Form 1040-ES). It is not tax, legal or financial advice, does not prepare or file returns, and cannot account for your complete tax situation; rates and thresholds change each year. Consult a qualified tax professional. It is not affiliated with the IRS or any gig platform.