21 Tax Write-Offs for Delivery Drivers
NAICS business codeYour NAICS business code is a six-digit string of numbers that shows the type of work your business does. NAICS stands for North American Industry Classification System. When you do your taxes, you'll enter it in Box B of your Schedule C.492000
Reviewed bySabrina Wiechart, CPASabrina is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with over 15 years of experience in tax preparation, planning, and S-Corp compliance. She holds a Master’s in Accounting and specializes in helping self-employed individuals make smart tax decisions. Sabrina is passionate about simplifying the S-Corp process and making sure every client keeps more of what they earn.We know it can be grueling, but as a delivery driver, your drop-offs make people smile every day. But what about something to make you smile?
How about if we told you that you could save money on your taxes simply by writing off your business expenses? From fuel to uniforms to delivery bags, anything you pay for while making your deliveries can help lower your tax bill. And we’ve made it even easier, by sorting all the best write-offs for delivery drivers in one place.
Now it’s easier than ever to pick up those savings, whether you're driving for Postmates, Walmart Spark, Grubhub, DoorDash, GoPuff, Uber Eats, or even delivering groceries for Instacart.
Insulated bags or backpacks used to keep food warm while delivering are fully deductible.
Your delivery bike, accessories, and any repairs are all considered write-offs.
This includes uniforms or any branded items you must wear while working.
This applies to clothing you can't reasonably wear outside of work. Everyday clothes don't qualify, even if you only wear them on the job.
If you're required to have a car inspection before delivering, you can write it off.
Software you use for invoicing, tracking expenses, creating timesheets, and so on is deductible.
Protecting yourself and your business with liability insurance? It's a write-off.
The cut Stripe, PayPal, Square or your invoicing platform takes on each payment is a write-off.
If you buy a phone or laptop and use it for work, it's partially deductible — in proportion to how much you use it for business. The device itself is depreciated on Box 13 (or expensed under Section 179); your monthly service plan belongs on Box 27b, and accessories on Box 22.
If you drive for work ...
As a delivery driver, your biggest tax savings will come from writing off part of your car expenses — things like gas, maintenance, and insurance.
Keep in mind: As someone who drives a lot for work, you could end up saving more money by reporting the miles you drive for work instead of actual car expenses.
Parking for a meeting downtown, or any other work trip, is tax-deductible!
A toll while driving to or from a work destination is tax-deductible!
If you buy a new car, you can write off part of the cost every year for five years.
Flashlights, tire iron, duct tape, and other tools you may need in your vehicle are deductible.
Car insurance monthly fees, registration, even roadside assistance are partially deductible — if you use the actual expense method. The standard mileage rate already covers them.
Oil changes, repairs, and regular checkups are deductible if you use the actual expense method. Take the standard mileage rate instead and they're already baked into your per-mile deduction.
If you discuss work at a restaurant ...
One of the best ways to up your game as a delivery driver is to learn from others in the business.
If you meet with someone in your industry to chat about best practices over a meal, you can write the cost off as a business expense.
If you discuss work with a coworker, mentor, client, or prospective client, it's a write-off — 50% of the tab.
If you leave town for work ...
Go ahead and include travel expenses in your write-offs if you head out of town for work-related purposes such as an industry conference or seminar.
Planes, trains, and car rentals are all work-related travel costs that can be written off.
When you travel for work, lodging expenses such as hotel rooms or Airbnb are write-offs.
When you're traveling for work, your meals are 50% deductible — takeout included. (Long-haul truck drivers subject to DOT hours-of-service rules can deduct 80%.)
If you work from home ...
While most of your work likely happens on the road, you might also work from home occasionally — especially if you're building up your own delivery service outside of the apps. In this case, you can claim some of your home office expenses.
A desk, chairs, lamps, and other home office necessities are all tax write-offs. Anything over about $2,500 gets depreciated on Form 4562 instead of written off all at once.
Repairs just for your home office are 100% deductible. Repairs to the rest of your home count too, prorated by your business-use percentage on Form 8829.
Gotta keep the lights on in your home office! A portion of your electricity bill counts.
Whether it's rental or homeowners insurance, you can write off a portion through your home office deduction.
It'd be hard to work in an office without running water, huh? Your water bill counts.
You need internet to do your job! If you claim a home office, deduct it prorated on Form 8829 along with your other utilities. Internet you pay for on the road, purely for work, is 100% deductible.
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