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Accounting for gig workers

Accounting for gig workers who hate accounting

Hate Ledger is accounting and expense tracking for gig workers: rideshare and delivery drivers, task workers, online sellers, freelancers and independent contractors who get paid across several apps and still owe one tax bill.

Import your payout CSVs, snap receipts from your phone, log your miles, and see one plain-English number each morning: what you actually earned, what belongs to the IRS, and what is safe to spend.

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Income tracking across every gig platform

Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart, Upwork, Etsy, a direct client — the money lands in different places and none of it is withheld. Hate Ledger pulls it into one income picture so you know your real hourly, not your gross payout.

  • Import payout CSVs from any platform, or connect a bank account
  • Earnings per platform, per week and per hour worked
  • Automatic tax reserve set aside from every deposit
  • 1099-NEC and 1099-K amounts reconciled against your own records

Expense tracking built for gig work

The deductions that matter to gig workers are miles, phone, supplies, platform fees and hot bags — not office rent. Capture them the moment they happen instead of hunting receipts in April.

  • Mileage log at the current IRS standard rate
  • Photo receipt capture with automatic matching
  • Platform fees and commissions split out of gross pay
  • Home-office, phone and equipment deductions tracked cleanly

Self-employed tax, handled through the year

Gig income means self-employment tax and quarterly estimates. Hate Ledger keeps a running estimate from your real numbers so a quarter never arrives as a surprise.

  • Running self-employment and federal estimate on live figures
  • Quarterly due dates with the amount to pay
  • Schedule C worksheet built from your categorized entries
  • State-specific calculators for the state you drive or work in

Who this fits

The IRS treats gig work broadly: driving, deliveries, tasks, selling online and freelancing all count. The bookkeeping problem is the same — many small payments, no withholding, deductions scattered across a year.

  • Rideshare drivers — Uber, Lyft and owner-operators
  • Delivery couriers — DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, Amazon Flex
  • Freelancers and independent contractors billing direct clients
  • Online sellers and task workers with 1099-K income

Pick the work you do — accounting for gig workers for each

Accounting for rideshare drivers

Uber and Lyft pay you gross, deduct their fees on the statement, and leave the tax to you. Hate Ledger rebuilds the real picture: net per mile, per hour and per week, with the fees split out and the tax reserve taken off the top.

  • Uber and Lyft payout CSV import with fees separated from fares
  • Mileage tracking at the current IRS standard rate
  • Net earnings per mile, per hour and per shift
  • Standard mileage versus actual vehicle cost, compared side by side
What is the best expense tracker for Uber and Lyft drivers?
One that separates platform fees from fares and logs miles in the same place. Hate Ledger imports rideshare payout files, tracks mileage at the IRS rate and shows net earnings per mile.
Can rideshare drivers deduct mileage and car costs both?
No — you choose either the standard mileage rate or actual vehicle expenses for the year. Hate Ledger calculates both from your records so you can pick the larger deduction.

Common questions about accounting for gig workers

What is the best accounting app for gig workers?
The right one tracks income from several platforms at once, logs mileage, captures receipts, and keeps a live self-employment tax estimate. Hate Ledger does all four and starts free with no card.
Do gig workers need accounting software at all?
If you earn more than about $400 in net self-employment income you owe self-employment tax and generally file a Schedule C, so you need records of income and deductions. Software mainly saves you from rebuilding a year of receipts at tax time.
How much should a gig worker set aside for taxes?
A common starting point is 25–30% of net profit, covering 15.3% self-employment tax plus federal and state income tax. Use the tax set-aside calculator on your own numbers for a closer figure.
Can I track expenses from more than one gig app?
Yes. Income and fees are tracked per platform while deductions such as miles, phone and supplies stay pooled, so you see both the per-app picture and your overall profit.
Does it work for freelancers and independent contractors, not just drivers?
Yes. Freelancers, contractors and online sellers use the same income tracking, expense capture, invoicing and quarterly tax tools; only the typical deduction categories differ.
Is there a free version for gig workers?
Yes — a free forever tier with no card required, and a 7-day Pro trial if you want the paid features first.

Free calculators and guides

Run the numbers or read the background before you switch software.

Try it on your own numbers.

Free forever tier, no card. Import a CSV and see your first Morning Number in about ten minutes.

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