Enter your Uber Eats 1099-NEC in the self-employment section of FreeTaxUSA

FreeTaxUSA asks for self-employment income in a dedicated section during the interview process. When you reach the self-employment or business income portion, you will report your Uber Eats earnings from the 1099-NEC form that Uber sends you by January 31st. The software walks you through line by line, and you do not need to jump between screens or hunt for a buried field — the path is linear and labeled clearly.

The exact location depends on whether you are filing federal taxes only or both federal and state. In either case, the self-employment section appears after you enter W-2 income (if you have any) and before investment income. FreeTaxUSA will ask you to confirm that you are self-employed, then prompt you to enter the business name, your role, and the income amount.

Key Takeaways

  • Uber Eats income goes into the self-employment section of FreeTaxUSA, not under wages or other income categories.
  • You will need your 1099-NEC form from Uber, which shows the total amount paid to you during the tax year.
  • FreeTaxUSA automatically calculates self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare) once you enter the income amount.
  • You can deduct business expenses like mileage, phone, and vehicle maintenance, which reduces the taxable profit and your overall tax bill.
  • The software saves your progress, so you can stop and return to the self-employment section without losing your entries.

Locating the self-employment income section

Start the FreeTaxUSA interview and move through the initial questions about filing status, dependents, and income sources. When the software asks "Do you have self-employment income?" answer yes. This opens the self-employment section where you will enter Uber Eats details.

If you are filing both federal and state taxes, you will see the self-employment section in the federal portion first. State-specific questions come later, and most states do not require you to re-enter self-employment income — FreeTaxUSA carries the number forward automatically. However, some states have their own self-employment tax rules, and the software will flag those if they apply to you.

What information from your 1099-NEC you will need

Uber sends a 1099-NEC to you and to the IRS. Box 1 of the form shows the total amount Uber paid you during the year. This is the number you enter into FreeTaxUSA. Do not use the amount after Uber's service fees — the 1099-NEC already reflects what you actually received.

Keep the 1099-NEC in front of you while you work through the self-employment section. You will also see boxes for other payments or adjustments, but for most Uber Eats drivers, Box 1 is the only number you need from the form. If Uber issued you a corrected 1099-NEC (marked as a duplicate or correction), use the corrected version instead of the original.

Entering business expenses to reduce your tax bill

After you enter your Uber Eats income, FreeTaxUSA will ask whether you have business expenses. This is where you can deduct costs directly tied to your delivery work. Common deductions include mileage driven for deliveries, vehicle maintenance and repairs, phone and data plan costs, and vehicle insurance. Keeping track of these expenses throughout the year reduces your taxable profit and lowers the tax you owe.

You do not need to itemize every single trip or receipt in FreeTaxUSA itself — the software asks for a total amount for each category. However, you should keep your own records (mileage log, receipts, bank statements) in case the IRS asks questions later. The standard mileage rate for 2024 is set by the IRS each year, and FreeTaxUSA will show you the current rate when you enter mileage deductions.

How FreeTaxUSA calculates self-employment tax

Self-employment tax covers Social Security and Medicare for people who work for themselves. When you enter your Uber Eats income, FreeTaxUSA automatically calculates this tax using the net profit (income minus expenses). The rate is approximately 15.3% of your net profit, though you can deduct half of the self-employment tax from your income, which lowers your overall tax bill slightly.

This calculation happens in the background — you do not need to do it yourself. FreeTaxUSA shows you the self-employment tax amount on your final return, and you can see how it was calculated by reviewing the tax summary before you file. If your self-employment income is below a certain threshold (currently $400 for the year), you may not owe self-employment tax, but you should still report the income.

Reviewing your entries before you file

Before you submit your return to the IRS, FreeTaxUSA shows you a summary of all income and deductions you entered. Review the self-employment section carefully — confirm that the 1099-NEC amount matches what Uber sent you, and double-check any business expenses you claimed. If you spot an error, you can go back and edit the self-employment section without starting over.

The summary also shows your total tax liability and any refund or amount owed. If the number seems wrong, the most common cause is a mismatch between the 1099-NEC amount and what you entered, or missing business expenses that would lower your profit. Take time to verify before you file, because correcting errors after filing requires an amended return.

What happens if you do not have a 1099-NEC yet

Uber is required to send 1099-NEC forms by January 31st, but you can still file your return before that date if you know your income. You can enter an estimated amount based on your own records, then file an amended return once the official 1099-NEC arrives if the numbers differ. However, most people wait for the 1099-NEC to arrive before filing to avoid the extra step.

If you earned less than $600 from Uber Eats during the year, Uber may not send you a 1099-NEC at all. You still owe tax on that income and should report it in the self-employment section of FreeTaxUSA. The threshold for filing a return is separate from the threshold for receiving a 1099-NEC, so do not assume you can skip reporting just because you did not receive a form.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I enter Uber Eats income in the W-2 section or self-employment section?

Self-employment section only. Uber Eats drivers are independent contractors, not employees, so your income comes on a 1099-NEC, not a W-2. FreeTaxUSA has separate fields for each type of income, and entering it in the wrong place will cause errors in your tax calculation.

Can I deduct my car payment or lease on FreeTaxUSA?

No. You can deduct mileage (which implicitly covers depreciation and wear) or actual expenses like maintenance and repairs, but not the car payment or lease itself. Most Uber Eats drivers benefit more from the standard mileage deduction because it is simpler and usually larger than itemizing individual expenses.

What if I drove for Uber Eats in two different states?

Enter all your Uber Eats income in one self-employment entry on the federal return. When you file state returns, FreeTaxUSA will ask you to allocate income by state based on where you worked. The software guides you through this, and you can split the income and expenses proportionally between states.

Does FreeTaxUSA file my self-employment tax return automatically?

Yes. When you file your 1040 federal return with self-employment income, FreeTaxUSA includes Schedule SE (the self-employment tax form) automatically. You do not need to file a separate form — it is part of the complete return package.

Can I go back and change my self-employment income after I file?

You can amend your return by filing Form 1040-X with the IRS, but you cannot change it in FreeTaxUSA after you have filed. If you discover an error after filing, you will need to file an amended return. This is why reviewing your entries carefully before you submit is important.