SE tax, federal brackets, deductions, and how to pay quarterly — everything you need as an independent contractor.
If you drive for DoorDash, you're an independent contractor. That means no taxes are withheld from your pay — and you're responsible for calculating and paying what you owe. This guide covers everything for 2026.
DoorDash sends a Form 1099-NEC to every dasher who earned $600 or more during the year. This form shows your total gross earnings before any deductions. You'll use it when filing Schedule C on your Form 1040.
Important: the amount on your 1099 is your gross pay, not your taxable income. You subtract business deductions (mileage, phone, etc.) to arrive at your net self-employment income.
As an independent contractor, you owe self-employment tax (SE tax) of 15.3%. This covers Social Security (12.4%) and Medicare (2.9%) — the same taxes W-2 employees pay, but you pay both the employee and employer halves.
SE tax is calculated on 92.35% of your net self-employment income (the 7.65% reduction accounts for the employer half being deductible). Then you can deduct half of your SE tax from your AGI, which lowers your federal income tax.
Federal income tax is applied to your taxable income (AGI minus standard deduction). For 2026, the standard deduction is $15,750 (single), $31,500 (married filing jointly), or $23,625 (head of household).
If you expect to owe $1,000 or more in federal taxes, you must make quarterly estimated payments. The 2026 due dates are:
Pay via IRS Direct Pay (free) or mail Form 1040-ES. Missing payments results in an underpayment penalty.
Use our free calculator to estimate exactly what you owe →
Calculate My 2026 TaxesDisclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only. Consult a CPA or enrolled agent for advice specific to your situation.