How to Get Your Instacart 1099

When does Instacart send a 1099?

Instacart issues a 1099-NEC to full-service shoppers who earned $600 or more in the year. The form is prepared through Stripe Express and made available in January, with a January 31 delivery deadline.

If you earned less than $600 as a full-service shopper, you will not receive a form, but the income is still taxable and belongs on your Schedule C. In-store-only shoppers are employees and receive a W-2 from Instacart instead of a 1099.

1. Get it from Stripe Express (full-service shoppers)

1. Watch for an email from Stripe inviting you to set up Stripe Express (sent on behalf of Instacart) in December or January.
2. Click the link and create your Stripe Express account, or log in, using the email tied to your shopper account.
3. Confirm your tax details and choose paperless (download) or mail delivery.
4. Once issued, open Tax Forms in Stripe Express and download your 1099-NEC as a PDF.

Stripe Express is separate from the Instacart Shopper app. If no invite arrives, check spam and confirm your shopper account email matches Stripe's.

2. Check your earnings in the Shopper app

1. Open the Instacart Shopper app and review your earnings for the year.
2. Use this to sanity-check the total that should appear on your 1099-NEC.
3. The app shows what you were paid; the official form comes from Stripe Express.

3. If you cannot find the form

1. Log in to Stripe Express directly and open Tax Forms.
2. Confirm you earned $600 or more as a full-service shopper, forms are only issued above that threshold.
3. Contact Instacart shopper support or Stripe Express to confirm your email and re-send the invite.

Full-service shopper vs in-store shopper: 1099 or W-2?

Full-service shoppers shop for and deliver orders as independent contractors, so they get a 1099-NEC and file a Schedule C, deducting mileage and expenses. In-store shoppers only pick and stage orders in the store as part-time employees, so they get a W-2 with taxes already withheld.

If you did both at different times, you could receive both a 1099-NEC and a W-2 for the same year. Keep them separate: the W-2 wages go on your 1040 as employee income, while the 1099 earnings go on Schedule C as self-employment income.

What to do if your Instacart 1099 is wrong or missing

If the amount does not match your records, compare it to your in-app earnings and bank deposits. If it is genuinely off, contact Instacart and Stripe Express so a corrected form can be issued rather than filing the wrong number.

If no form arrives but you earned $600 or more as a full-service shopper, confirm your email, check spam for the Stripe invite, and contact support. Even without a form, report your actual earnings, the income is taxable regardless.

Do Instacart shoppers pay self-employment tax?

Full-service shoppers do. Because you are an independent contractor with nothing withheld, you owe self-employment tax (about 15.3%) plus income tax on your net profit. Setting aside roughly 25 to 30% of net earnings as you shop keeps you prepared.

You are taxed on profit, not gross pay, so mileage and expenses directly reduce the bill. Batch-to-batch driving adds up fast, which makes mileage tracking especially valuable for shoppers.

Deductions that lower your Instacart taxes

Full-service shoppers are taxed on net profit, so track every deductible cost. Common write-offs include:

• Mileage: the standard mileage rate for every business mile driven between the store and customers, usually the largest deduction.
• Phone and data plan, for the business-use portion, since the Shopper app runs on your phone.
• Insulated bags, coolers, and a phone mount used for shopping and delivery.
• Tolls and parking paid while working batches.
• A share of car costs if you use the actual-expense method instead of mileage.

Good to know

• Your 1099-NEC comes from Stripe Express, not the Shopper app, set up Stripe Express early.
• Confirm whether you are a full-service (1099) or in-store (W-2) shopper, it determines your entire filing.
• Track mileage between the store and every customer; it is the biggest deduction and easy to undercount.
• Set aside 25 to 30% of net earnings for taxes since nothing is withheld.