Lyft Tax Write-Offs Calculator
Enter your Lyft gross earnings, platform fees, app-on miles and supplies to total every 2026 write-off and the tax it removes.
Lyft reports your gross ride receipts, not your take-home. This calculator strips out the fees Lyft kept, applies the 2026 standard mileage rate to your app-on miles, and shows what your write-offs are actually worth in tax.
Rideshare income & deductions
For Uber and Lyft drivers. Enter your gross 1099-K/NEC totals — not your net payout — and track every mile from the moment you go online.
Set aside from every payout
11.2%
Per weekly payout
$97
Quarterly payment
$1,263
Total tax owed
$5,769
Balance due
$5,769
Breakdown
Uber gross earnings$45,000
Mileage deduction (22,000 mi)− $15,400
Other business expenses− $1,920
Net self-employment income$27,680
Self-employment tax (15.3%)$3,911
Federal income tax$962
CA state tax (est.)$895
Total tax liability$5,769
Effective rate12.8%
Uber and Lyft don't withhold taxes. Pay quarterly via IRS Direct Pay to avoid the 8% underpayment penalty.
Frequently asked questions
- What can Lyft drivers write off in 2026?
- App-on business miles at $0.70 per mile, the Lyft platform and service fees shown on your annual summary, the business share of your phone plan and handset, phone mounts and chargers, tolls and airport fees, car washes and interior cleaning, water and mints for riders, plus health premiums and retirement contributions.
- Which Lyft miles count as business miles?
- Miles in app mode 1 waiting for a request, mode 2 driving to the pickup, and mode 3 with the passenger, plus reasonable driving back from a long drop-off. Personal errands and commuting with the app off do not count.
- Are Lyft's fees deductible if they were never paid to me?
- Yes. Lyft reports gross ride receipts, then subtracts its service fee and commission, so you deduct those fees on Schedule C to arrive at what actually hit your bank.
- Can I use standard mileage and deduct gas too?
- No. The $0.70 rate already covers gas, maintenance, insurance and depreciation. You either take standard mileage or the actual expense method, not both.
- Do I still deduct expenses if I drove at a loss?
- Yes. A Schedule C loss offsets other income on your 1040, and no self-employment tax is due on a loss year, provided the activity is genuinely a business.
- How much do Lyft write-offs typically save?
- A driver logging 20,000 app-on miles claims $14,000 in mileage alone, which usually removes $3,000 to $4,500 of combined self-employment and income tax.
Related calculators
- Uber Tax Write-Offs CalculatorUber fees, online miles, phone and rider supplies deductions.
- Mileage Tax Deduction CalculatorDeduct business miles at the 2026 IRS standard rate.
- Business Mileage DeductionBusiness-use miles for freelancers and small-business owners.
- DoorDash Tax Write-Offs CalculatorDasher mileage, phone, hot bags, tolls and fees deductions.
Related blog posts
- Mileage Deduction for Uber Drivers: What Counts, What Doesn't, and What It's Worth in 2026How Uber drivers claim the 2026 standard mileage deduction at $0.70/mile — which miles count, why Uber's tax summary understates them, and worked examples.
- Mileage Deduction for Lyft Drivers: Claiming Every Business Mile in 2026How Lyft drivers claim the 2026 standard mileage deduction at $0.70/mile — Period 1, 2 and 3 miles, what Lyft's summary misses, logs, and examples.
- Uber Tax Write-Offs: What the Calculator Counts and Why It MattersUse a 2026 Uber tax write-offs calculator properly: online miles at 70¢, Uber service fees, phone, tolls, rider supplies — and the tax each one removes.
- Lyft Tax Write-Offs: What Drivers Can Deduct in 2026Every Lyft write-off for 2026: app-on miles at 70¢, platform fees, phone, cleaning and rider supplies — and what each one is worth in real tax.