Worked example
These are example figures, not typical earnings: a courier in a petrol car who earned £22,000 from Uber Eats over 48 weeks, driving 14,000 delivery miles (17,000 in total) in 1,300 hours, in 2026/27, living in England. Change the figures in the calculator above to your own; how the calculator works explains each step.
| Paid by Uber Eats | £22,000.00 |
|---|---|
| Real costs (fuel, insurance, repairs, other) | £4,305.60 |
| Claimed for tax using the HMRC mileage rate | £6,800.00 |
| Taxable profit | £15,200.00 |
| Income Tax | £526.00 |
| Class 4 National Insurance | £157.80 |
| Put aside each week | £14.25 |
| Take-home after costs and tax | £17,010.60 |
| Real hourly rate (apps paid £16.92) | £13.09 |
Uber Eats alongside a job
Your salary uses your tax-free Personal Allowance first, so your delivery profit is taxed from the first pound, and at 40% once your total income passes £50,270. Class 4 National Insurance is still worked out on your profit alone. Enter your job's yearly pay in step 4 to see the real figure.
Mileage rate or actual costs
For a car, the mileage rate in 2026/27 is 55p a mile for the first 10,000 business miles and 25p after that. It replaces fuel, insurance, repairs and road tax. The calculator shows both methods side by side; once you use the mileage rate for a car, you have to keep using it for that car.
Not sure whether the mileage rate or actual costs is better for you? Mileage allowance vs actual costs compares them with worked examples. If you deliver for more than one app, the multi-app calculator shows which one pays best after costs.
Expenses Uber Eats couriers can claim
You can claim costs that are only for your delivery work, and the work share of anything you also use privately. GOV.UK's list of allowable expenses covers the rules. Typical costs:
- Fuel, insurance, repairs, servicing, MOT, road tax and breakdown cover (actual costs only, not with the mileage rate)
- Parking while collecting or delivering
- A delivery bag and phone mount
- The work share of your phone and mobile data
You can't claim fines, personal driving, or travel between home and work. Work clothing only counts if it's a uniform or protective kit (see clothing expenses). If you use the £1,000 trading allowance, you can't claim any expenses at all.
When you pay
- Register for Self Assessment by 5 October after the end of your first tax year of delivering.
- File online and pay by 31 January. For 2026/27 that's 31 January 2028.
- Payments on account: if your bill is £1,000 or more, HMRC usually asks for two advance payments towards next year's bill, each half of this year's, on 31 January and 31 July.
In the worked example the 2026/27 bill is £683.80, under the £1,000 limit, so it's all due by 31 January 2028. Dates: Self Assessment deadlines and payments on account.
Making Tax Digital
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax means keeping digital records and sending HMRC quarterly updates. It depends on your gross self-employment and property income (before expenses); pay from a job doesn't count.
- Over £50,000 in 2024/25: from 6 April 2026
- Over £30,000 in 2025/26: from 6 April 2027
- Over £20,000 in 2026/27: from 6 April 2028
In the worked example, £22,000 from Uber Eats is over £20,000, so if your 2026/27 income is similar you'd need to use Making Tax Digital from 6 April 2028. Check with GOV.UK's eligibility guide.
What Uber Eats says
- In the UK you can sign up to deliver with Uber Eats by bicycle, motorbike or scooter, or car, using the Uber Driver app. Source: Uber: become a courier in the UK
- Documents are uploaded in the app or at partners.uber.com. Source: Uber: become a courier in the UK
- Platforms report sellers' income to HMRC each year; your tax return still covers 6 April to 5 April. Source: GOV.UK: selling goods or services on a digital platform
Platform details checked 31 October 2026. Platforms change their terms, so check your own agreement.
Common questions
How do I work out my Uber Eats income for my tax return?
Add up everything Uber paid you for deliveries between 6 April and 5 April, including tips and promotions, using your earnings statements in the Uber Driver app or your online account.
Are Uber Eats tips taxable?
Yes. Tips are part of your self-employed income, so include them in your earnings.
I have a full-time job. How much tax will I pay on Uber Eats?
Your delivery profit is added to your salary. If the total stays under £50,270, profit is usually taxed at 20% plus 6% Class 4 National Insurance on profit above £12,570. Above £50,270 the Income Tax rate is 40%. Put your salary in the calculator for an exact estimate.
Do I need to register for Self Assessment if I only deliver part-time?
If your gross income from self-employment is £1,000 or less in a tax year, the trading allowance means you usually don't need to tell HMRC. Above that, you'll normally need to register for Self Assessment by 5 October after the tax year ends and file a return by 31 January.
Does Uber tell HMRC what I earn?
Since 1 January 2024, digital platforms have had to collect sellers' details and report their income to HMRC each year under the reporting rules for digital platforms. GOV.UK says a platform reporting your details doesn't automatically mean you owe tax, and that you should work out your income for the tax year (6 April to 5 April), so add up your own statements for those dates.