Quarterly taxes for drivers: avoid the April shock.
Apps don’t take taxes out of your pay. If you expect to owe, the IRS wants payments during the year, not all at once in April.
Estimated tax due dates
| Income earned | Estimated tax due |
|---|---|
| September – December 2026 | January 15, 2027 |
| January – March 2027 | April 15, 2027 |
| April – May 2027 | June 15, 2027 |
| June – August 2027 | September 15, 2027 |
If a date falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day. New York also has estimated tax payments.
Source: IRS: Estimated tax
What a driver owes in self-employment tax
Hamza’s 2026 driving profit is $43,850.
That’s before regular income tax and New York tax. Spreading payments across the year avoids a big bill and penalties.
Source: IRS: Self-employment tax
File your taxes and handle your TLC insurance in the same office.
Thousands of New York City drivers already insure with Syed Insurance Agency. Now the same office prepares your taxes too, with a licensed CPA, at the best price in the market. Bring your Uber or Lyft tax documents and your TLC policy, and we take care of both.
Frequently asked
What happens if I don’t pay quarterly?
You may owe an underpayment penalty on top of the tax. It’s usually small compared with the tax itself, so start paying as soon as you can.
How much should I pay each quarter?
It depends on your profit, deductions and family situation. A CPA can calculate it at your free consultation.
Sources: IRS: Estimated tax · IRS: Self-employment tax
Figures and rules on this page come from the official and published sources linked above, as of November 2026. People and numbers in the examples are made up to explain the idea. This page is general information, not tax or legal advice for your situation, and laws change; check the linked source or ask a licensed CPA before you act.
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