Does Uber count as self-employed?

If you drive for Uber or Lyft, you are self-employed. As a driver for either company, you are an independent contractor rather than an employee. As an independent contractor, you provide transportation services to individuals.



In 2026, the answer depends heavily on your jurisdiction, as the legal landscape for the "gig economy" has shifted toward "worker" or "employee" status in many regions. In the United Kingdom, following landmark Supreme Court rulings, Uber drivers are officially classified as "workers," a middle category that grants them rights to minimum wage, holiday pay, and pensions, even if they aren't full employees. In the United States, the classification remains a battlefield: some states like California (via Proposition 22) treat drivers as independent contractors with certain "portable" benefits, while others are pushing for full employee status. Globally, if you are an Uber driver, you are likely still responsible for your own taxes as a self-employed entity for filing purposes (Schedule C in the US), but you may have gained "worker" protections that didn't exist a decade ago. Essentially, you are "independent" in your schedule but "dependent" on the platform for your livelihood, a hybrid status that 2026 labor laws are still refining.

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Whether you use ridesharing services, like Uber or Lyft, or take the bus or train from your house to the office, your commuting miles won't be considered tax-deductible by the IRS. On the other hand, “work-related travel” or business miles can be written off.

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You will most likely report the income from your 1099s on Schedule C, Profit or Loss from Business. Since Uber reports this income information directly to the IRS, you don't have to include the actual 1099 forms with your tax return. Schedule C can also be used to list your business-related expenses.

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You must report all income you earn, even if you don't receive any tax forms from Uber or Lyft. You will likely receive two tax forms from Uber or Lyft if you meet certain requirements.

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Working for Uber or Lyft is about more than just driving. As a self-employed worker, you are treated as a business by the IRS. It's important to understand the tax implications of your side (or full-time) gig.

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The meals and snacks you eat on the job as an Uber driver normally can't be written off. And you won't have a lot of chances to wine and dine potential customers. But there are some cases when you can deduct your meal expenses.

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If an expense also benefits you personally, only the portion attributed to your business is deductible. For example, you may have a cell phone that you use for driving about 25 percent of the time. In that case, you can deduct 25 percent of the phone bill as a tax deduction.

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You can deduct the actual expenses of operating the vehicle, including gasoline, oil, insurance, car registration, repairs, maintenance, and depreciation or lease payments. Or you can use the standard IRS mileage deduction.

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Arab, the company spokesperson, added that “Uber's median take rate has remained the same” — that is, around 25 percent.

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Uber, Lyft, and Airbnb are all under the umbrella of “Sharing Companies.” The “Sharing Economy” is an economic model based on Peer-to-Peer transactions, facilitated by the sharing companies.

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The $400 threshold is for total income from all sources, not just rideshare earnings. Anything above $0 for reporting income. Be sure to track expenses, report all income, make estimated tax payments, and stay compliant with IRS requirements. Don't avoid paying taxes just because you didn't earn much with Uber.

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Uber is okay for a side hustle but if you trying to do it full time just beware you'll put an insane amount of miles on your vehicle. In 4 hours of driving I average about 150 miles. Pay seems like it's less and less as time goes on and fewer incentives to keep driving.

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Earnings are decreasing because Uber and Lyft keep changing the rates - keeping prices the same for passengers, lowering pay for drivers and pocketing the difference. As Uber and Lyft continue to make more, drivers continue to make less.

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