Free for Instacart Shoppers

Shop for Others All Day. Your Bookkeeping Shouldn't Take All Night.

The free bookkeeping tool that helps Instacart shoppers organize ordinary and necessary business expenses for Schedule C.

Download Free TemplateSee What You Can Deduct
60+
Business Types
6 Tabs
Per Template
500+
Transaction Rows
$0
Completely Free

Tax Deductions You May Be Missing

These are common Schedule C business expenses that instacart shoppers may be able to claim under IRC §162. Our template has them pre-loaded.

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Vehicle / Mileage

Line 9

Gas or mileage rate ($0.70/mi). This is your biggest deduction.

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Phone & Data

Line 18

Phone bill (business portion), data plan, phone case.

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Delivery Bags

Line 22

Insulated bags (hot/cold), hand cart, wagon, portable charger.

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Insurance

Line 15

Auto insurance (actual expense method only).

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Car Repairs

Line 21

Repairs, brakes, oil changes (actual expense method only).

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Parking & Tolls

Line 27

Parking at stores, tolls.

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Vehicle Registration

Line 23

Registration (business portion).

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Comfort Items

Line 27

Comfortable shoes (work only), back brace, hand sanitizer.

How It Works

1

Download

Pick your business type. Get a free template. No signup.

2

Categorize

Enter your bank transactions. Pick from the dropdown. ~30 min.

3

Review

Schedule C summary auto-calculates your income, expenses, and tax.

4

File

Hand it to your Enrolled Agent. Or let Arc & Ledger prepare your return from $300.

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Get Your Free Instacart Shopper Template

We'll email your template directly — open it in Excel or upload to Google Sheets. No software to install.

What's Inside

✓ Start Here tab with step-by-step instructions
✓ Business Info tab — your details, ready for filing
✓ Expense categories pre-loaded for your industry
✓ 500-row transaction tracker with dropdown categories
✓ Schedule C summary — auto-calculates your totals
✓ Monthly summary for quarterly estimated taxes

We'll email your template directly. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

ENROLLED AGENT TAX SERVICES

Too Busy to DIY?
We'll Handle Everything.

Arc & Ledger is a tax and bookkeeping firm led by Enrolled Agents — authorized to prepare your return and represent you directly before the IRS. Over 10 years helping self-employed professionals like you.

✓ Schedule C tax preparation from $300
✓ Monthly bookkeeping from $200/mo
✓ S-Corp election & tax planning
✓ Authorized to represent you before the IRS
✓ Enrolled Agents — pass rigorous IRS exam
✓ 10+ years serving self-employed professionals
arcandledger.com | (310) 876-0249
bookkeeping@arcandledger.com | Culver City, CA

Get Your Price in 30 Seconds

Question 1 of 4

What income did you have in 2025?

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Need to File for Free? The IRS Can Help.

If you earned under $84,000, you may qualify for IRS Free File — free tax preparation software provided through an IRS partnership. No cost, no catch.

✓ IRS Free File — guided software for income under $84,000
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Visit IRS Free File Options →

Our free template works alongside any filing method — use it to organize your expenses first, then file however works best for you.

Common Questions

What Schedule C deductions can Instacart shoppers claim?+
Self-employed Instacart shoppers may deduct ordinary and necessary business expenses under IRC Section 162. Commonly claimed deductions include vehicle expenses or mileage (Line 9), phone and data (Line 18), delivery bags and supplies (Line 22), insurance (Line 15), car repairs (Line 21), and parking and tolls (Line 27). Your tax situation may vary, so consult a qualified tax professional.
What is Schedule C?+
Schedule C (Form 1040) is the IRS form where sole proprietors report business income and expenses. It calculates your net profit or loss, which flows to your Form 1040. Instacart shoppers are self-employed independent contractors and use Schedule C to report delivery earnings. Our free template is an organizational tool that categorizes expenses by the correct Schedule C line numbers.
How much tax do self-employed Instacart shoppers pay?+
Self-employed Instacart shoppers generally pay both income tax and self-employment tax (15.3% for Social Security and Medicare) on net profit. Your income tax rate depends on your total taxable income and filing status. The self-employment tax applies to net earnings over $400. All tips are taxable income. Consult a qualified tax professional.
Do I need to file quarterly estimated taxes as an Instacart shopper?+
If you expect to owe $1,000 or more in federal tax for the year, the IRS generally requires quarterly estimated tax payments. Deadlines are typically April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15. Underpayment may result in penalties. Our template helps you track income and expenses so you can better estimate what you may owe.
Can Instacart shoppers deduct insulated bags and supplies?+
Insulated hot and cold bags, phone mounts, hand carts, and other supplies purchased for your Instacart business may be deductible as ordinary and necessary business expenses on Schedule C Line 22. Keep receipts for all purchases. Items used for both personal and business purposes should be allocated by business use percentage. Consult a qualified tax professional.
Should I hire an Enrolled Agent or do my own taxes?+
An Enrolled Agent (EA) is a tax professional who has passed a rigorous IRS exam and is authorized to represent taxpayers directly before the IRS. Unlike other preparers, EAs must pass a rigorous exam and complete continuing education annually. For Instacart shoppers with high mileage and vehicle deduction decisions, an EA can help ensure compliance. Arc & Ledger's team of Enrolled Agents specializes in Schedule C businesses.

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