2026 IRS Mileage Rate for Gig Workers, Explained

Last updated: September 2026

If you drive for DoorDash, Uber, Instacart, or any other gig platform, the IRS standard mileage rate is the single most important number for your taxes — it's what turns your miles into a real deduction. Here's exactly what it is right now, and how to use it.

2026 rates at a glance

A mid-year change like this is unusual — the IRS typically sets one rate per calendar year. Make sure whatever mileage app or spreadsheet you're using has actually been updated to reflect it.

What the rate actually covers

The standard mileage rate isn't just "gas money." It's designed to bundle together all the real costs of running your car for work, so you don't have to track each one separately:

• Fuel
• Maintenance and repairs
• Depreciation (the car losing value over time)
• Insurance
• Registration fees

Multiply your business miles by the rate, and that's your deduction — no receipts for gas or oil changes required.

Why this matters more for gig workers than almost anyone else

Unlike a W-2 job with a company car or a mileage reimbursement policy, gig platforms don't cover your vehicle costs at all. Every mile you drive to a pickup or between orders comes straight out of your own pocket — and out of your own car's lifespan.

That also means mileage is usually the single largest deduction available to gig workers. Drivers who don't track their miles carefully often end up overpaying on taxes by a significant margin, simply because they never claimed miles they were entitled to.

What counts as a deductible mile

• Driving to a restaurant or store for pickup
• Driving from pickup to drop-off
• Driving between deliveries or rides while logged in and available
• Driving to a busier area between orders while the app is on

What generally doesn't count: your regular commute, personal errands mixed into your driving day, and usually the drive from home to your first pickup and from your last drop-off back home. The IRS generally treats those as commuting. Different sources describe this differently, and the rules can change if your home qualifies as your principal place of business, so check with a tax professional if you're unsure. For what to write down and how often, see our mileage tracking guide.

See what this looks like on a real shift

Numbers on a page are one thing — seeing them applied to your actual earnings is another. Our calculator already uses the current 76¢ rate by default, so you can see exactly how much of a shift's pay goes toward vehicle costs before you ever touch a tax form.