The Instacart settlement claim form closed to new submissions on August 31, 2023, and late claims are generally not accepted. If you filed before the deadline and want to know where your payment stands, check the status tool at CaliforniaShopperSettlement.com or call the settlement administrator, Simpluris, at (833) 244-7345.1California Shopper Settlement. The People of the State of California v. Maplebear Inc. dba Instacart
Who the Claim Form Covered
The form was tied to a $46.5 million settlement between the San Diego City Attorney’s Office and Maplebear Inc., which does business as Instacart, over allegations that the company misclassified California delivery shoppers as independent contractors.2City of San Diego. City Attorney Delivers for Instacart Workers Roughly 308,000 people who worked as Instacart shoppers in California between September 13, 2015, and December 15, 2020, were eligible.
Only delivery shoppers were included. In-store shoppers, who sometimes carried different employment classifications, were not part of this settlement. Workers who had already released their claims through individual settlements or arbitration were also excluded.
Because the case was a government enforcement action rather than a class action, eligible shoppers did not have to opt in. Simpluris used Instacart’s own records to identify who qualified and sent notices by mail and email with the unique claim information each person needed to file.
What the Form Asked For
Eligible shoppers filed through the CaliforniaShopperSettlement.com portal. The form requested the claimant’s full legal name, the email address on their Instacart shopper account, and a current mailing address, along with a choice of payment method.3San Diego City Attorney. Instacart Settlement Information
Submitting online generated a confirmation number that could be used to track the claim. Simpluris then cross-referenced each submission against Instacart’s payroll and account records to confirm eligibility. When something didn’t match, the administrator could reach out by phone or email to resolve the discrepancy before denying the claim.
Checking on a Claim You Already Filed
If you filed before the deadline, keep your confirmation number handy and use the status tool on CaliforniaShopperSettlement.com, or call Simpluris at (833) 244-7345. Shoppers who chose electronic payment generally received funds before those waiting on paper checks.
Update your mailing address as soon as possible if it has changed. Checks sent to an old address can be returned and delay payment. Simpluris can be reached at:3San Diego City Attorney. Instacart Settlement Information
- Website: CaliforniaShopperSettlement.com
- Phone: (833) 244-7345
- Email: info@CaliforniaShopperSettlement.com
If you received a notice but missed the August 31, 2023 deadline, you can still contact Simpluris to ask whether any exception applies, but the settlement terms generally do not allow late claims once the court-approved deadline has passed.
How Payment Amounts Were Calculated
Individual payments were based on the total number of hours each shopper worked during the eligible period from September 13, 2015 through December 15, 2020.2City of San Diego. City Attorney Delivers for Instacart Workers More hours meant a larger share of the restitution fund, so amounts vary widely. A shopper who completed a handful of deliveries over a few months receives far less than someone who worked the platform consistently across several years.
Taxes on Your Payment
Settlement payments from this case are likely taxable. The IRS treats all income as taxable unless a specific code section excludes it, and the exclusion for damages tied to physical injury or physical sickness does not apply to a wage and labor case like this one.4Internal Revenue Service. Tax Implications of Settlements and Judgments
Because the restitution represents compensation Instacart should have provided as wages, the IRS generally treats these payments the way it treats back pay: as taxable income. Expect a tax form, typically a 1099, covering the amount you were paid, and plan to report it on your federal and California returns for the year you received the funds. A tax professional can help sort out the correct treatment for your situation.
This Is Not the FTC Consumer Settlement
In December 2025, the Federal Trade Commission announced a separate $60 million settlement with Instacart over allegations of deceptive billing, including charging consumers for an Instacart+ membership without clear consent and misleading customers about delivery fees and satisfaction guarantees.5Federal Trade Commission. Instacart to Pay $60 Million in Consumer Refunds to Settle FTC Lawsuit Over Allegations it Engaged in Deceptive Tactics That case pays customers who were overcharged, not shoppers who were misclassified. Each settlement has its own eligibility pool and its own separate claims process. If you both shopped on Instacart as a customer and worked as a delivery shopper, you may fall within both, but you would need to handle each one on its own terms.