The app shows gross pay. This shows what a Georgia driver actually keeps after the car, the IRS — and the state's freshly cut 4.99% flat tax.
Gross hourly
—
Vehicle cost (72.5¢/mi)
—
Self-employment tax
—
Est. federal income tax
—
Est. GA state tax (4.99%)
—
Your TRUE hourly pay
—
Tracking every mile is worth real money
At 72.5¢/mi, a driver logging 15,000 miles/year deducts $10,875 from taxable income. A mileage tracking app does it automatically. Compare mileage trackers →
How this calculator works
Your true hourly pay is what's left after costs the apps never show. We subtract vehicle cost at the 2026 IRS standard mileage rate of 72.5¢ per mile, then self-employment tax (15.3% on 92.35% of profit), federal income tax at your bracket, and Georgia's flat state income tax — newly cut to 4.99% for 2026 (signed May 2026, retroactive to January 1, with more small cuts scheduled). Nice for your bill, but it doesn't change the math that matters: the car is still your biggest cost.
The Atlanta problem: sprawl
Metro Atlanta is one of the most spread-out delivery markets in the country. Long suburban runs from Buckhead to Alpharetta or across Cobb and Gwinnett pile on miles, and every mile costs you 72.5¢ in real vehicle cost. Watch the per-mile readout above: $2/mile earned is strong; under $1/mile means your car is eating most of your pay. Highway miles also mean tolls (I-85 express lanes) and faster tire wear that the apps never mention.
No safety net, pure market
Georgia has no minimum-pay guarantee for app drivers — your pay is exactly what the offers add up to. That makes declining bad offers (long distance, low payout) the single highest-leverage habit for Georgia drivers.
Gross $15–24/hour is common in metro Atlanta, but after vehicle costs (72.5¢/mi), 15.3% self-employment tax, federal income tax, and Georgia's 4.99% flat tax, realistic net is often $9–15/hour. Atlanta's sprawl means more miles per dollar, which drags net pay down.
What is Georgia's income tax rate for gig workers in 2026?
A flat 4.99% for tax year 2026 — Georgia cut the rate in May 2026, retroactive to January 1, with further small cuts scheduled in coming years. Gig profit is taxed at the same flat rate as wages.
Is there a minimum pay law for gig drivers in Georgia?
No. Georgia has no state or city minimum-pay guarantee for app-based drivers, so per-offer judgment — especially declining low dollar-per-mile offers — matters more than in states with pay floors.
Estimates for educational purposes only — not tax, legal, or financial advice. State rules and rates change; consult a tax professional about your situation.