your rover paycheck before the irs gets paid.
rover hosts deduct things most gig calculators don't think about: home wear, pet supplies, cleaning. the irs treats your dog-boarding bedroom as partially a business.
free 2026 rover tax calculator: self-employment tax, mileage deduction at 72.5¢/mile, federal & state brackets, and quarterly estimated payments for rover pet care 1099 contractors.
your rover math
the form arrives. or it doesn't. you still owe.
rover hosts set their own rates for walking, drop-in visits, daycare, and boarding. rover's commission (~20%) comes off the top — what's reported on your 1099 is your net payout. tips are yours.
boarding hosts have a major underused deduction: business-use of home. if you keep a dedicated room or area for boarded dogs, a percentage of your home expenses (utilities, mortgage interest, depreciation, insurance) can deduct as home-office. the irs is stricter than most people think — the space has to be regularly and exclusively used for the business. but if you qualify, it's the biggest deduction available.
5 deductions specific to rover
anything you bought specifically for clients' dogs. food you provide for boarded pets if owners don't bring their own.
if you have a room used exclusively for dog boarding, a percentage of your home's expenses deducts. measure square footage and prorate.
the cost of cleaning between bookings — laundry, carpet cleaning, sanitizing supplies.
rover offers some coverage but many sitters carry additional liability. the cost of that policy deducts.
if you drive to clients' homes for walks or visits, every mile deducts. boarding-only sitters skip this.
rover boarder in austin, 4 dogs/week boarded + 5 walks/week, $36k gross
tx no state tax, big home-office deduction if you qualify. take-home: ~$28k. effective rate ~22%. the home-office piece is what separates rover from most gig-pay math.
rover, specifically
if i board dogs in my home, can i deduct part of my mortgage?+
potentially — the home office deduction lets you deduct a percentage of mortgage interest (or rent), utilities, and depreciation for the space used exclusively for boarding. the rules are strict; talk to a cpa.
i feed boarded dogs my own food. is that a deduction?+
the cost of dog food you provided (when not reimbursed) is a business expense.
what about pet-care training i took for clients?+
continuing education for your gig is deductible — first-aid for pets, certifications, training programs.
rover took a service fee. do i deduct that?+
no — your 1099 reports your payout after rover's fee. the fee is already excluded. don't deduct it again.
also drive, sell, host, or stream elsewhere? combine on one schedule c.
your rover 1099 income gets added to every other gig you do for the year. one self-employment return covers all of it — and miles, fees, and home-office allocations may apply across platforms.