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How Drivers File Taxes

2017 How to File Taxes for Lyft and Uber Drivers


How Lyft and Uber Drivers are Classified

Lyft is a peer-to-peer transportation platform, meaning that our drivers use their own cars to swing by and pick up passengers, who use the app to request a ride. Lyft is committed to safety and community. Our drivers go through a series of screenings, including background checks and car safety inspections. Lyft does not fit in to the traditional taxi/limousine model, and our Government Relations team works hard to create regulations that fit the needs of drivers and passengers, and most importantly, keep everyone safe.

Are Lyft drivers employees of Lyft?

Drivers and riders are users of the platform and are not employees of the company. As members of the community platform, drivers and riders are not entitled to benefits, worker's compensation, or unemployment insurance. 
Use the following article to begin preparing your taxes as a driver. We’ll do our best to break taxes down for you, but keep in mind that the following isn’t tax advice. For questions about your specific tax situation or how to file taxes, speak with a tax professional in good standing with the IRS.
How do I view tax info or print a 1099 form? 
Your 2017 tax info is available to view and download in the 'Tax Info' tab of your Driver Dashbtoard. 

To view a 1099 form:
  1. Open your Lyft app
  2. Tap your profile picture in the top left corner 
  3. Tap 'Dashboard'
  4. Tap the menu icon in the upper corner of the screen
  5. Tap the "Tax Info" tab
  6. Tap the link to view your 1099
To print a 1099 form: 
  1. Login to your Driver Dashboard on a desktop or laptop
  2. Navigate to the 'tax info' tab
  3. Click 1099 link you want to view
  4. Click file from your toolbar
  5. Click print
Form 1099 EligibilityAll drivers are considered users of the rideshare platform. No matter the type of income you report, you are not considered an employee of Lyft or Uber.
Some, but not all, drivers are eligible to receive a Form 1099. The following drivers will receive these types of Form 1099s:
  • Form 1099-K: Drivers who earned at least $600 in gross ride receipts from passengers in the last year will receive a Form 1099-K.
  • Form 1099-MISC: Drivers who earned at least $600 from activities other than driving (e.g., referral bonuses, Express Drive bonuses, Mentoring, or other incentives) in the last year will receive a Form 1099-MISC.
Tax filing resources:
Drivers with Form 1099-K or 1099-MISC

1099-K: If you receive a 1099-K from us, the dollar amount in Box 1 consists of the gross receipts from all rides you were paid for in 2017 (excluding the Service Fee and other third-party fees, such as airport and city fees, sales tax, and other taxes if applicable).
  • Heads up: This gross amount includes the Lyft commission and tolls, so the number will be larger than what you took home in ride-related earnings. The 1099-K doesn’t provide a separate box for Lyft to report its cumulative commission or tolls to you, but you can find these breakdowns in the “Tax Information” tab of the Driver Dashboard.
Read more:
1099-MISC: If you receive a 1099-MISC, the dollar amount in Box 7 is all income not related to ride earnings, like referral bonuses, Express Drive bonuses, or Mentoring.
Read more:
Drivers without Form 1099Not eligible for a Form 1099? No sweat. Whether you receive a form, we’ll provide an annual summary in the Driver Dashboard with your yearly driver stats.
Your driver stats will include the number of rides you gave, gross earnings from rides, non-ride earnings (such as incentives or referral bonuses), tolls, and mileage information.
Need more info? Try using the IRS, TurboTax, or Intuit as resources for filing your Lyft earnings without a Form 1099.
Driver Dashboard Annual SummaryThe Driver Dashboard annual summary will show your gross vs. net earnings and your total miles.
Your non-ride earnings include:
  • Referral bonuses 
  • Mentor payments
  • Express Drive bonuses
  • Damage fees
  • Incentives such as Average Hourly Guarantees
Your ride earnings include:
  • Ride payments from passengers
  • Tips
  • Tolls
  • Power Driver Bonuses
  • Cancellation fees
Driver Dashboard troubleshooterThe Driver Dashboard is available for all drivers, even those who have been de-activated.
If you can’t access your Driver Dashboard, it may be because you have a new name, address, or phone number. Learn How to Change Your Address or Phone Number at our Help Center.

How to Enter Your Tax Information

Once you've been approved to drive, you need to enter your tax information into the Driver Dashboard in order to get paid. You may find it's easier to enter this information from a desktop computer rather than a cell phone or tablet.

Submit your tax info

  1. Log into the Driver Dashboard with the phone number or Facebook info you used to create your account
  2. Tap 'Tax Information'
  3. Tap ‘Edit Tax Info’ under the Tax Info header
  4. Select your tax classification from the drop-down menu. Most drivers choose ‘Individual,’ but if you’re unsure, contact a tax professional.
    • Individual tax classification. Enter your full name, current personal address, and Social Security number. For security reasons, your Social Security number won’t be displayed if you leave the page and come back.
    • Corporation/LLC tax classification. Enter your full business name, current business address, and EIN or ITIN. For security reasons, your EIN/ITIN won’t be displayed if you leave the page and come back.
  5. Type your name or business name in the box under the ‘Signature’ header. The name or business name in the name field must be the same as your signature. Heads up: The checkbox under the signature box, which should be already checked on your first visit, means that your tax forms will be provided to you digitally. If you uncheck this box, your forms will be mailed to you instead.
  6. Tap ‘Submit Tax Info’
  7. That’s it! If you haven’t already, remember to submit your bank info .

How to Photograph Insurance Info

All drivers are required to have a personal insurance policy. If your insurance is expiring or you've changed providers, we will need a photo of your new insurance document.

What information needs to be visible in the insurance photo?

There are four main pieces of information that must be captured in the photo you take of an insurance policy:
  • Name – this needs to appear in official print.
  • The car make & model – we want to make sure the correct vehicle is covered.
  • Policy expiration date – so we know it's valid and can record the renewal date.
  • State – the state on your insurance must match the state you'd like to drive in.
If your name does not appear on the insurance ID card, you can ask your insurance company for the "declarations page" which will list all insured members on the policy.
Please note: We don't accept registration as a valid form of insurance outside of Massachusetts.

How to Change Your Address


Shipping address

To enter or edit the shipping address associated with your account: 
  1. Tap your driver photo in the Lyft app
  2. Tap 'Settings,' then 'Shipping address'
  3. Enter your shipping info. Remember these rules for shipping addresses:
    • Leave fields blank if they don't apply to your shipping address. Don’t enter: "N/A," "None," "Same," "Home," etc.
    • Use the appropriate fields. For example, don’t enter city and state info in the "Address Line 2" field — use the designated city and state fields.
    • Use the city you’ll be receiving packages in. This may not be the same city you drive in.
    • No need to enter your name; we already have this on file!
    • Only use English characters (no accent marks or non-English characters like in Chinese or Cyrillic alphabets). Using these characters or accent marks in the address fields may delay shipments.
    • Our system can’t read special instructions for packages, so don’t enter special shipping or delivery instructions in any of the address fields.
This is Calvin, The Simple Driver. We've scoured the web and concluded that he offers the best information on filing taxes as an uber or lyft driver. Watch this video and learn how to file taxes as a driver and much more.


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