Published: August 22, 2026
Last Updated: August 22, 2026
By: Alfreda Downie

Gig workers may have business expenses beyond mileage and gas, but a cost is deductible only when it meets the applicable tax rules, has a business purpose, is properly allocated from personal use, and is supported by records. A category such as phone service, supplies, parking, insurance, or fees is not an automatic deduction merely because it appears on a common online checklist.

The best bookkeeping practice is to capture the transaction first, attach the supporting document, identify its business purpose, and flag mixed-use costs for review. The tax return comes after the records—not before them.

What expense categories should gig workers track?

The IRS’s current business-expense resource guide directs small businesses to topic-specific guidance, including Schedule C instructions, travel and car expenses, depreciation, and recordkeeping resources [1]. Schedule C includes expense categories for items such as car and truck expenses, commissions and fees, insurance, interest, legal and professional services, office expense, repairs and maintenance, supplies, taxes and licenses, travel, meals subject to applicable limits, utilities, and other expenses [2].

For a gig worker, the key word is track, not “deduct automatically.” The business purpose and personal-use allocation matter.

Expense category Gig-work example Recordkeeping question
Platform and payment fees Cash-out fee, service fee, card fee Was the cost incurred to receive or manage business earnings?
Supplies and equipment Delivery bag, insulated tote, phone mount, safety gear Was it ordinary and necessary for the work, and was it personal too?
Phone and data Business portion of mobile service used for apps and customer communication What reasonable method supports the business-use share?
Parking and tolls Job-related parking or tolls Is the cost linked to business use and not already included in another claimed method?
Licenses and permits Required local business or vehicle-related fees Is the fee connected to the business and current period?
Insurance Business-related portion or required coverage Is it properly allocated and not duplicated in a vehicle method?
Professional services Tax preparation, bookkeeping, legal help for the business Is the service related to operating or reporting the business?
Training and software Qualifying business software or skill maintenance Is the expense directly connected to the current business rather than a personal hobby?

A phone is often essential for platform work, but it is commonly used personally as well. The recordkeeping question is not whether the phone is helpful; it is what portion of the cost is reasonably attributable to business use and supported by records.

Cost Better accounting treatment
Monthly phone plan Record the bill; apply a documented business-use allocation rather than automatically deducting 100%
Extra data used for work Keep statement or plan evidence and note business purpose
Phone mount or charging cable Record as equipment/supplies if used for the business, subject to applicable rules
Personal streaming or household add-ons Exclude from business expense unless a separate, supportable business component exists

The IRS says a recordkeeping system should clearly show income and expenses and that the taxpayer bears the burden of proof for deductions [3]. A brief allocation note is better than a vague year-end estimate.

What about parking, tolls, delivery gear, and cleaning?

These costs may be relevant to gig work, but the relationship to the work must be documented. A parking receipt tied to a completed delivery, a delivery bag used in the business, or a cleaning cost attributable to business use can be captured in SoloBooks with date, amount, source, and note. The tax treatment may still depend on the vehicle-expense method and personal-use allocation.

Example What to document Important caution
Downtown delivery parking Receipt, platform shift, destination, amount Do not claim it twice through another reimbursement or method
Tolls Toll statement and task/route context Separate personal tolls
Delivery bag Receipt and business use Review whether it is a supply or longer-lived asset under applicable rules
Vehicle cleaning Receipt and business-use facts Personal vehicle cleaning is not automatically business expense
Safety equipment Receipt and work-related use Keep the business purpose clear

Why can’t you simply deduct mileage and every vehicle receipt?

Vehicle deductions require special care. The standard mileage method and actual-expense method are different tax approaches with eligibility and election rules. If a driver uses a standard mileage method for a vehicle, separately adding gas, maintenance, repairs, insurance, or depreciation for the same vehicle use can create an improper double count.

The mileage versus actual expenses guide explains the high-level distinction. The 2026 mileage-rate guide covers the current rate periods. Keep vehicle receipts even when a particular tax method does not use each receipt directly; they can still be valuable for operating-profit and vehicle-planning analysis.

How should SoloBooks categorize mixed-use expenses?

SoloBooks should separate the source transaction from the tax classification. For a $100 phone bill, the system stores the full bill, records an allocation method, and records only the documented business share to the relevant expense category. The remaining personal part is not a business expense.

Workflow step Purpose
Import or enter the full transaction Creates an audit trail
Attach receipt or statement Supports date, amount, and payee
Select business purpose Connects the cost to the activity
Enter allocation method Makes mixed-use judgment visible and reviewable
Post business portion Keeps the P&L accurate
Keep personal portion out of business expense Avoids overstating deductions

Frequently Asked Questions

What can gig workers deduct besides mileage and gas?

Potential business-expense categories can include qualifying supplies, platform or bank fees, business-use phone and data costs, parking and tolls, insurance or licensing costs, safety equipment, and properly allocated vehicle or other business expenses. Whether an item is deductible depends on the applicable tax rules, business purpose, personal-use allocation, chosen vehicle-expense method, and documentation; do not treat a category list as an automatic deduction list.

Can gig workers deduct their cell phone bill?

A worker may be able to deduct the business-use portion of a phone and data plan when it is ordinary, necessary, and supported by records, but a personal-use portion is not automatically deductible. Keep a reasonable allocation method and supporting bills rather than deducting the entire bill merely because a gig app is installed.

Can I deduct both mileage and gas for gig work?

Do not assume you can claim a standard mileage deduction and separately deduct fuel as an additional vehicle operating expense for the same vehicle use. The applicable vehicle-expense method, eligibility rules, and allocation determine treatment; consult current IRS guidance or a tax professional before combining vehicle costs.

What proof should I keep for gig-work expenses?

Keep records that show the amount paid, date, payee, business purpose, and any personal-versus-business allocation, along with receipts, invoices, account statements, mileage logs, and platform records when relevant. The IRS says the taxpayer bears the burden of proof for entries and deductions reported on a return.

The Bottom Line

The right expense list is not the longest list. It is the set of business costs you can identify, support, allocate correctly, and report under the applicable rules. Track potentially relevant expenses as they occur, then use current guidance or professional advice to determine the final return treatment.

SoloBooks provides the records, categories, receipts, and allocation trail needed to make that review more accurate and less stressful.

References

[1]: IRS — Guide to Business Expense Resources [2]: IRS — Instructions for Schedule C (Form 1040) [3]: IRS — Recordkeeping

This article is for general educational purposes only. It is not tax, legal, or accounting advice. Deductions depend on the taxpayer’s facts, substantiation, allocations, and applicable tax rules; consult a qualified professional for individual guidance.