Use the following article to begin preparing your taxes as a Lyft 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.
Skip to:
- How drivers are classified
- How to view tax info and 1099 forms
- Proof of income
- Form 1099 Eligibility
- Drivers with Form 1099-K or 1099-MISC
- Drivers without Form 1099
- Driver Dashboard annual summary
- Troubleshooting the Driver Dashboard
- Region-specific taxes
- B notices
How drivers are classified
Drivers and riders are users of the platform and aren't employees of the company. As members of the community platform, drivers and riders aren't entitled to benefits, worker's compensation, or unemployment insurance.
Lyft is a peer-to-peer transportation platform, meaning drivers use their own cars to pick up passengers, who use the app to request a ride. Because Lyft is committed to safety and community, drivers go through a series of screenings, including background checks and car safety inspections.
Lyft doesn't fit into the traditional taxi or limousine model. Our government relations team works hard to create regulations that fit the needs of drivers and passengers, and, most importantly, keep everyone safe.
How to view tax info and 1099 forms
We provide yearly information for a year by the end of January in the following year. For example, yearly information for 2018 will be available in the Dashboard by the end of January 2019.
Your yearly information and any 1099 forms you qualified for (requirements below) are viewable using the Dashboard, or the Lyft Driver app.
To view using the Dashboard:
- Log into the Dashboard at https://www.lyft.com/drive/
dashboard - Click on 'Tax Information'
- To view information from a different year, back to 2014 at the earliest (we are unable to provide information from 2013 or earlier), click the pink links to switch between years
- If there is a 1099 form available for a year, you'll see a link to click to view it
To view using the App:
- Open the Lyft Driver app
- Tap your profile photo in the top left
- Tap 'Dashboard'
- Tap the menu icon in the upper corner
- Tap 'Tax Information'
- To view information from a different year, back to 2014 at the earliest, click the pink links to switch between years
- If there is a 1099 form available for a year, you'll see a link to click to view it
Proof of income
We've found that weekly pay statements or annual earnings will suffice for most cases (for example, loan applications).
If you need to access a history of weekly pay statements, log in to the Dashboard and tap 'Driving History.' From there you can view your summaries and earnings by ride, day, week, and year.
Form 1099 Eligibility
All drivers are considered users of the Lyft platform. No matter the type of income you report, you are not considered an employee of Lyft.
Some, but not all, drivers are eligible to receive a 1099-K or 1099-MISC from Lyft. The following drivers will receive these types of 1099s:
To qualify to receive a 1099 from us, you must have met the following requirements:
2018 tax year
- 1099-K: At least 200 rides and at least $20,000 in gross ride receipts from passengers in the year. If you were a resident of Vermont or Massachusetts in 2018, you would need to have earned at least $600 in gross ride receipts from passengers during the year. There is also no requirement for the number of rides given for residents of these states
- 1099-MISC: At least $600 from activities other than driving (example: referral bonuses, weekly guarantee, other bonuses) in the year
2016 and 2017 tax years or later
- 1099-K: At least $600 in gross ride receipts from passengers during the year
- 1099-MISC: At least $600 from activities other than driving (example: referral bonuses, weekly guarantee, or other bonuses) in the year
2015 tax year or earlier
- 1099-K: At least 200 rides and at least $20,000 in gross ride receipts from passengers in the year
- 1099-MISC: At least $600 from activities other than driving (example: referral bonuses, weekly guarantee, other bonuses) in the year
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 ride receipts from passengers from all rides completed during the year (including the Service Fee and other third-party fees, such as airport and city fees, sales tax, and other taxes if applicable).
See more instructions and graphics from our partner TurboTax at How to use your Lyft 1099.
- Heads up: This gross amount includes Lyft fees 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 fees 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 that isn't related to ride earnings, like referral or Express Drive bonuses.
See more instructions and graphics from our partner Intuit at Tax Help for Lyft Drivers: How to File Your Lyft 1099.
Read more:
- IRS Instructions for Form 1099-MISC
- IRS: About Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income
- IRS Sharing Economy Tax Center
Drivers without Form 1099
Not eligible for a Form 1099? No sweat. Whether you receive a form or not, 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.
Driver Dashboard annual summary
The Driver Dashboard annual summary shows your gross and net earnings and your total miles.
Non-ride earnings include:
- Earnings Guarantees
- Weekly Ride Challenges
- Rental Rewards for Express Drive
- Referral bonuses
- Manual bonuses
- Promotion bonuses
Ride earnings include:
- Payments from passengers
- Tips from passengers
- Tolls automatically charged to passengers and paid to drivers
- Cancellation fees
- Lyft's fees (where applicable)
Troubleshooting the Driver Dashboard
The Driver Dashboard is available for all drivers, even those who have been deactivated.
If you can't access your Driver Dashboard, try logging into the Driver Dashboard using a computer (or mobile web browser) at lyft.com/login instead of through your app.
If you are still having trouble, it may be because you have a new name, address, or phone number. Learn How to change your address or phone number.
B notices
If there is a problem with the taxpayer ID number (TIN) you provide Lyft, you may receive a B notice from the IRS.
Since the B notice is associated with the incorrect TIN and name combination on your Lyft W-9, the IRS may not see a B notice connected to your account.
If you have received a B notice for your Lyft account, we will send you a message to let you know. Please refer to this message for further information.
Region-specific taxes
Hawaii
Drivers in Hawaii may owe Gross Excise Tax ("GET") on their gross income. For additional information see Hawaii Tax Information Release No. 2018-01 and the Hawaiian Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' Business Action Center. Always consult with a tax advisor.