How To Get My 1099 From Instacart 2025: Complete Shopper Tax Guide

Instacart independent contractors who earned $600 or more during the tax year can access their Form 1099-NEC electronically through the Stripe Express platform or receive a paper copy via physical mail postmarked by January 31, 2025. E-delivery requires opting in through the Stripe Express invitation link sent to the shopper's registered email address or directly logging into the Stripe Express mobile application. Physical tax forms are mailed automatically to the active address listed in the Instacart Shopper profile if electronic consent is not provided by the mid-January deadline.

Pre-Filing Preparation and Threshold Requirements

Retrieving your tax documents from Maplebear Inc. (operating as Instacart) requires verifying your earnings eligibility, confirming your legal identification details, and accessing the authorized third-party tax processor portal. Instacart utilizes Stripe Express to manage tax document distribution, tax identification number (TIN) verification, and delivery preference selection for full-service shoppers and in-store independent contractors.

Before initiating the document retrieval workflow, collect your account credentials and review your annual earnings summaries within the Instacart Shopper app to ensure your profile meets federal reporting criteria.

Shopper Tax Readiness Checklist

• Essential Credentials & Tools:
  
  
  • Instacart Shopper app access (updated to the latest iOS/Android version).
  • Primary email account registered with your Instacart profile.
  • Active mobile phone number capable of receiving SMS multi-factor authentication (MFA) codes.
  • Stripe Express account credentials or mobile application installed.
  • Social Security Number (SSN) or Employer Identification Number (EIN) used during shopper onboarding.
• Mandatory Prerequisite Standards:
  
  
  • Federal Reporting Threshold: Minimum of $600.00 USD in gross earnings (combined batch pay, promotions, and customer tips) accumulated between January 1 and December 31 of the applicable tax year.
  • Form Classification: IRS Form 1099-NEC (Nonemployee Compensation). Shoppers do not receive Form W-2 unless directly employed as in-store hourly employees.
  • Legal Identity Matching: Exact match between your legal name and SSN/TIN on file with both Instacart and the Internal Revenue Service databases.
• Key Timeline Benchmarks:
  
  
  • Mid-January: Cutoff date to update physical mailing addresses and confirm electronic delivery opt-in preferences via Stripe Express.
  • January 31: Statutory IRS deadline for Instacart/Stripe to issue Form 1099-NEC via electronic access or mail postmark.
  • April 15: Federal tax filing deadline to submit Form 1040 along with Schedule C (Profit or Loss From Business) and Schedule SE (Self-Employment Tax).

Step-by-Step Guide to Accessing Your Instacart 1099 Form

Follow this precise execution workflow to verify your gross earnings, accept electronic delivery consent, and securely download your Form 1099-NEC for the 2025 tax season.

Step 1: Verify Gross Earnings and Form 1099-NEC Eligibility

1. Open the Instacart Shopper App on your mobile device.
2. Navigate to the Earnings tab from the main navigation menu.
3. Select Weekly Breakdown and tally your total gross payouts—including batch pay, peak pay, distance pay, and 100% of customer tips—for the entire 52-week calendar year.
4. Calculate whether your total gross income equals or exceeds $600.00.

Pro-Tip: Do not deduct Instant Cashout transfer fees ($0.50 per transaction) or mileage expenses when calculating your $600 reporting threshold. The IRS requires Instacart to report total gross earnings prior to any contractor-initiated expense deductions. Instant Cashout fees should be claimed separately as business processing expenses on Schedule C.

Step 2: Locate and Redeem Your Stripe Express Email Invitation

1. Access the inbox of the email account connected to your Instacart Shopper profile.
2. Search for automated notification emails sent from Stripe (typically from e-delivery@stripe.com or no-reply@stripe.com) with subject lines such as "Get your Instacart 2024 tax forms faster" or "Action required to receive your Instacart tax form".
3. Open the email and click the secure authentication button labeled Get Started or Confirm Details.
4. If you cannot locate the email, check your Spam, Junk, and Promotional folders. If the link has expired, request a new link directly through the Stripe Express login portal by entering your registered email address.

Warning: Never enter your Social Security Number or banking details into links received from unverified third-party addresses. Legitimate delivery notices for Instacart 1099s come exclusively from official @stripe.com or @instacart.com subdomains.

Step 3: Complete Identity Verification on Stripe Express

1. Upon clicking the invitation link, you will be redirected to the secure Stripe Express account setup interface.
2. Enter the mobile phone number associated with your shopper profile to receive a six-digit SMS security code.
3. Input the verification code into the prompt.
4. Confirm your full legal name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security Number (SSN) or Employer Identification Number (EIN).
5. Verify that your legal address matches the primary address on file with the IRS. Update any outdated street numbers, apartment units, or ZIP codes directly within the fields provided.

Step 4: Grant Electronic Delivery Consent and Download PDF

1. Navigate to the Tax Forms tab inside the Stripe Express dashboard or mobile app.
2. Locate the prompt requesting consent for Paperless Delivery. Select Agree and Submit to accept electronic distribution of your tax documents.
3. Once the 1099-NEC form status changes to Available (on or before January 31), select the document listed under 2024 Tax Forms (issued in 2025).
4. Click the Download icon to generate a high-resolution, password-protected or standard PDF file of your official IRS Form 1099-NEC.
5. Save the file to a secure local directory or cloud storage location for integration into your tax preparation software (e.g., TurboTax, TaxSlayer, H&R Block) or for transmission to your Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Instacart Tax Reporting Specifications and Delivery Channels Matrix

The table below outlines the specific operational parameters, legal thresholds, delivery mechanisms, and portal requirements for Instacart independent contractor tax documentation for the 2025 tax filing season.

Troubleshooting Access Failures & Tax Information Discrepancies

Scenario 1: Missing or Expired Stripe Express Email Invitation

• Root Cause: The invitation email was filtered into spam/junk folders, sent to an outdated email address no longer used by the shopper, or the single-use security token in the link expired after 7 to 14 days.
• Actionable Fix: Navigate directly to the public Stripe Express login page (express.stripe.com/login). Enter the exact email address registered to your active or former Instacart Shopper account. If an account exists, Stripe will trigger a new login link or SMS security code directly to your mobile device. If your email address has changed entirely, open a support ticket within the Instacart Shopper App under Account Settings > Help > Contact Support to request an email update in your master profile.

Scenario 2: Locked Out Due to Phone Number Change or Failed SMS Verification

• Root Cause: The phone number linked to your Stripe Express account was changed or disconnected, preventing the multi-factor authentication (MFA) code from arriving.
• Actionable Fix: Go to the Stripe Express support portal (support.stripe.com/express). Select I changed my phone number or lost access to my phone. You will be prompted to verify your identity by submitting a clear photo of a government-issued photo ID (driver's license or passport) along with verifying your full legal name, address, and SSN. Once Stripe validates the credentials (typically 24–48 hours), your new phone number will be attached to your account.

Scenario 3: Reported 1099-NEC Earnings Do Not Match Shopper App Calculations

• Root Cause: The discrepancy usually stems from uncollected customer tips added after midnight on December 31, timing differences in batch payouts processed across calendar year boundaries, or failing to account for reimbursements.
• Actionable Fix: Cross-reference your weekly earnings statements in the Shopper App using payout date timestamps rather than order completion dates. Payments deposited into your bank account or Instant Cashout balance after 11:59 PM local time on December 31 belong to the subsequent tax year. If an actual system error exists (e.g., duplicate reporting or incorrect reimbursement additions), submit an inquiry to Instacart Shopper Support requesting a 1099-NEC Form Re-audit.

Scenario 4: Form 1099-NEC Contains Incorrect Legal Name or Social Security Number

• Root Cause: Inaccurate data input during initial shopper onboarding, legal name changes due to marriage/divorce, or operating under a newly formed LLC/EIN that was not updated in the system.
• Actionable Fix: Log in to Stripe Express and select Account > Tax Details. Edit the personal or business information fields to reflect your correct legal name and TIN/SSN. Submit the updated information to trigger an automatic IRS TIN Matching check. Once verified, Stripe will issue a corrected Form 1099-NEC (Box Corrected Checked) to both you and the IRS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the deadline for Instacart to send out 1099 forms in 2025?

Instacart and Stripe Express are legally mandated by the IRS to postmark hard copy forms or make digital PDF downloads available on the Stripe Express portal by January 31, 2025. If you opted for physical mail, allow 3 to 7 business days after January 31 for USPS delivery.

Does Instacart send a 1099 form if I made less than $600?

No, Instacart is not legally required to issue a Form 1099-NEC if your total gross earnings for the tax year were under $600.00. However, you are still legally required by federal law to report all self-employment income on your tax return, regardless of whether you receive an official 1099 document.

How do I access my Instacart 1099 if my shopper account was deactivated?

Deactivated shoppers retain access to their tax documents through the Stripe Express portal. Because your Instacart app access may be restricted, visit express.stripe.com/login using the email address and phone number previously attached to your shopper profile to log in and download your 1099-NEC.

What expenses can Instacart shoppers deduct against their 1099 earnings?

Shoppers operating as independent contractors can deduct standard business expenses on Schedule C to reduce their taxable income. Common allowable deductions include standard business mileage (tracked via apps like Stride or MileIQ), cellular data plan percentages used while working, insulated delivery bags, phone mounting hardware, and Instant Cashout transaction fees.

What should I do if I didn't receive my 1099 from Instacart by mid-February?

If it is past February 15 and you have checked your Stripe Express portal, verified your earnings exceeded $600, and checked your physical mail, contact Instacart Shopper Support through the app or email shoppers@instacart.com. You can also request a copy of your tax data directly from the IRS by ordering a Wage and Income Transcript on IRS.gov.

Streamline Your Independent Contractor Tax Filing

Accurate reporting of your Instacart earnings ensures full compliance with federal and state self-employment tax liabilities while maximizing your valid business deductions. Keep your Stripe Express profile updated annually and record your business mileage continuously to optimize your net earnings as an independent gig economy professional.