Instacart Taxes: Your 1099, Miles and What You Owe as a Shopper

Shopping for Instacart feels like a job, but for tax purposes you're running a small business. That means no withholding, a 1099 instead of a W-2, and a tax bill that can surprise you if you don't plan. The good news is that business costs, especially miles, can bring it down a lot. Here's where your forms are, what to report and the mistakes to avoid.

Where to find your Instacart 1099

Tax year	Where your form is
2023 and later	The Instacart Shopper site or app
2021 to 2022	Stripe Express, if you set up an account and opted in to e-delivery at the time

A lot of shoppers go looking in Stripe Express because that's where the forms used to be. Stripe's own help page says forms from 2023 onwards aren't delivered there, and Stripe can't access or resend Instacart tax forms on your behalf. If Instacart support sends you to Stripe, ask them to escalate internally.

Which 1099 you'll get

Instacart reports your earnings as an independent contractor. Under the IRS instructions dated 12/2026, a business files a 1099-NEC for each non-employee it paid at least 2,000 dollars for services during the year. If you earned less, you may not get a form at all. That doesn't change anything about what you owe: report all your Instacart income either way.

SSN or EIN on your 1099?

Here's a catch. Stripe's guidance says that if you're working as an individual, sole proprietorship or single member LLC, the IRS expects to see your own name and Social Security number on the 1099, not a business name and EIN. If your 1099 shows the wrong one, contact Instacart support to update your legal entity information. Don't change it just because an EIN feels more official.

What Instacart taxes you'll owe

1. Income tax on your profit, reported on Schedule C with your Form 1040.
2. Self-employment tax of 15.3% if your net earnings are 400 dollars or more, calculated on Schedule SE.
3. State tax, depending on where you live.

Profit is your earnings minus your business costs, so the deductions matter as much as the income.

Mileage: your biggest deduction

For most shoppers, driving is the main cost. For 2026 the IRS standard mileage rate changed mid-year: 72.5 cents a mile up to June 30, and 76 cents a mile from July 1. Split your log at July 1 and apply each rate to its half of the year. Keep a log of business trips as you go, with dates, miles and purpose.

Other costs shoppers often claim

• Supplies you buy specifically for shopping orders.
• Parking fees and tolls on business trips. The IRS says these are deductible on top of the mileage rate.
• The business share of any cost you also use personally, such as your phone, if you can show the split.

Keep receipts for each, and only claim the business portion of anything you also use personally.

Full-service shoppers vs in-store shoppers

These rules are for shoppers paid as independent contractors, which is how Instacart reports its full-service shopper earnings through Stripe and the Shopper app. If you're employed by Instacart or a store in a role that gives you a W-2, your employer withholds tax and the self-employment rules here don't apply to that pay. Check which form you receive, because it changes everything below.

A simple tax routine for shoppers

1. Log your miles every shift, with a marker at July 1 for 2026.
2. Move a set share of each payout into a separate tax savings account.
3. Keep receipts for supplies, parking and tolls in one folder or app.
4. Check your tax details in the Shopper app before the year ends.
5. Download your form from the Shopper app as soon as it's available.

Fixing a wrong 1099

1. Update your details in the Instacart Shopper app.
2. Contact Instacart and ask for a correction.
3. Wait for the notice: Stripe says it can take up to 48 to 72 hours after Instacart files the correction.
4. Download the corrected form, or ask Instacart to mail it if you didn't opt in to e-delivery.

If your account has been deactivated or suspended, you can still ask Instacart support for your tax forms using the email address on the account.

Avoiding a big bill at tax time

Because nothing's withheld, put money aside from every payout. A separate savings account for tax makes it easier to resist spending it, and lets you make estimated payments during the year instead of facing one large bill. Write down your miles every day you shop: reconstructing them later is how deductions get lost.

My verdict

Instacart taxes are manageable if you treat shopping as a business from the start: find your form in the Shopper app, keep a mileage log split at July 1, and save for self-employment tax. For the earnings side, see how much Instacart pays, and for tracking costs, the best receipt scanner apps.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I find my Instacart 1099?

For 2023 and later, in the Instacart Shopper site or app. Forms for 2021 to 2022 are in Stripe Express if you opted in to e-delivery.

Do Instacart shoppers pay self-employment tax?

Yes, if net earnings from self-employment are 400 dollars or more. The rate is 15.3%.

Will I get a 1099 from Instacart?

Businesses file a 1099-NEC for non-employees paid at least 2,000 dollars for services under the 12/2026 instructions, but you must report all income either way.

Should my Instacart 1099 show my SSN or EIN?

Stripe's guidance says sole proprietors and single member LLCs should generally see their own name and SSN.

What mileage rate do Instacart shoppers use for 2026?

72.5 cents a mile to June 30, then 76 cents a mile from July 1.