Do you earn money from gig work like driving a car for deliveries? If you do, you must file a tax return if you have net earnings from self-employment of $400 or more from gig work, even if it’s a side job, part-time or temporary. PIM Savvy’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site can help you file your taxes for FREE if you qualify. Keep reading for more information.
Gig work is a certain activity you do to earn income, often through an app or website (digital platform), like:
- Drive a car for booked rides or deliveries
- Rent out property or part of it
- Run errands or complete tasks
- Sell goods online
- Rent equipment
- Provide creative or professional services
- Provide other temporary, on-demand or freelance work
*Note: This list does not include all types of gig work.
Digital platforms are businesses that match workers’ services or goods with customers via apps or websites. This includes businesses that provide access to:
- Ridesharing services
- Delivery services
- Crafts and handmade item marketplaces
- On-demand labor and repair services
- Property and space rentals
*Note: This list does not include all types of digital platforms.
Not sure if you are a gig worker or not? The most common digital platforms gig workers use include Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart, Grubhub and Amazon. Gig workers may receive the following tax forms from the business(es) they work with:
- Form 1099-NEC, Nonemployee Compensation (Most common)
- Form 1099-K, Payment Card and Third Party Network Transactions
- Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income
- Form W-2, Wage and Income Statement (Less common)
PIM Savvy VITA may be able to help you file your tax return(s) for free as an independent contractor (self-employed) if you meet all of the minimum requirements:
- Your business doesn’t have any employees other than yourself,
- Your business revenue is greater than your expenses,
- Your business does not include deductions for a home office,
- You have documentation of your business revenues and expenses,
- You have documentation of the number of miles driven for the year (if appropriate for your type of business),
- You will file your personal taxes and business taxes together (not separately), and
- Note: PIM Savvy VITA would help you file your personal tax return first and include a Schedule C for your business tax return
- Your income was less than $79,000
If you qualify for free tax prep from PIM Savvy VITA, we will help you complete the necessary tax forms such as:
- Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return
- Form 1040-SR, U.S. Tax Return for Seniors
- Schedule C (Form 1040), Profit or Loss from Business (Sole Proprietorship)
- Schedule SE (Form 1040), Self-Employment Tax
Ready to schedule your free tax prep appointment with PIM Savvy VITA or have questions about tax returns related to gig work? Go to PIM Savvy’s Free Tax Prep (VITA) Program – PIM Savvy, call or text 206-565-2961, Option 2 (for Spanish) or Option 4 (for English), or email vita@pimsavvy.com. For the 2025 tax season, PIM Savvy VITA will offer virtual tax prep appointments. Any client interested in a virtual tax prep appointment will need internet access to upload the required documents to a secure portal. PIM Savvy VITA will also offer in person tax prep appointments in Renton, Everett, Bellevue, Seattle, Federal Way, Mukilteo and more! Don’t delay and schedule your appointment today!
Resources
Gig economy tax center | Internal Revenue Service
Manage taxes for your gig work | Internal Revenue Service
Publication 4012 (Rev. 10-2024)
