Do Taxi & Uber Drivers Earn Social Security Credits?

Yes, if you report the income. Most taxi, green cab, black car and app drivers are self-employed (independent contractors) for tax purposes, and self-employed people earn Social Security credits the same way employees do. In 2026, every $1,890 of net earnings from self-employment is one credit, up to four credits a year. The catch is that nobody reports it for you: your earnings only reach Social Security when you file a tax return with Schedule SE and pay self-employment tax.

General information, not tax advice. Figures are for 2026 from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and IRS.

How the credits work for a driver

Credits decide whether you can get Social Security retirement (and other) benefits. SSA says you need 40 credits, about ten years of work, for retirement benefits if you were born in 1929 or later. You can earn at most four a year, no matter how much you make.

For self-employed people, credits come from net earnings: your gross income from driving minus allowable business expenses. That is the number on your Schedule SE, not the fares the app shows. If you had $40,000 in fares and $34,000 in expenses, Social Security sees your profit, not $40,000.

The IRS says you must file Schedule SE when your net earnings from self-employment are $400 or more. The self-employment tax rate is 15.3%: 12.4% for Social Security and 2.9% for Medicare. The Social Security part stops at the 2026 wage base of $184,500 (IRS Topic 751).

Why reporting your income matters

• No return, no credits. If you skip filing, that year's driving doesn't count toward your 40 credits.
• Benefit size. SSA says credits only decide eligibility; your benefit amount is based on your earnings history (your highest 35 years). Years with very low reported profit pull your average down.
• Expenses cut both ways. Deducting real expenses is legal and lowers your taxes. It also lowers the earnings on your Social Security record. Don't invent or inflate expenses: it is illegal and it hurts your future benefit.
• Check your record. Create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov to see the earnings SSA has for you. If a year is missing, you'll need your tax return to fix it.

Low-profit years

If your profit is very low, the Schedule SE instructions describe a nonfarm optional method that may let you report more earnings and so earn credits anyway. It has strict conditions (income limits, at least $400 of net earnings in 2 of the 3 years before, and a lifetime limit of 5 years), and it raises your self-employment tax. Ask a tax preparer if it fits you before you use it.

ITIN holders

The IRS says an ITIN "does not" qualify you for Social Security benefits or the Earned Income Tax Credit, and does not authorize you to work. For what that means for a TLC license, see can I get a TLC license with an ITIN.

What to do next

Related: self-employment tax for TLC drivers, retirement savings for drivers, the Saver's Credit, taxes for Uber and Lyft drivers, health insurance for drivers and the money topic.