Do I Need to Declare My Uber Income in Australia?

If you drive for Uber, Ola, DiDi, DoorDash, Deliveroo, or any other rideshare or food delivery platform in Australia, the answer is simple: yes, you must declare every dollar you earn to the ATO. There is no minimum threshold, no grace period, and no exemption for part-time drivers.

The good news is that declaring your income is straightforward, and there are legitimate deductions that can significantly reduce what you owe. Here's everything you need to know.

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ATO Data Matching: Uber, DoorDash, and other platforms report your earnings directly to the ATO. Undeclared gig income is one of the ATO's highest priority audit areas in 2026. If you don't declare it, they will likely already know.

GST: The Rule That Catches Most Uber Drivers Off Guard

Here is where rideshare is different from most other side hustles: Uber drivers must register for GST from their very first trip, regardless of how much they earn. The normal $75,000 GST threshold does not apply to rideshare drivers.

This is because the ATO classifies rideshare as a taxi travel service. Under Australian tax law, taxi travel has always required GST registration from day one — and Uber falls into this category.

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Food delivery is different. If you only do food delivery (DoorDash, Deliveroo, Menulog) and not rideshare, the standard $75,000 GST threshold applies. You only need to register for GST once your delivery income reaches $75,000 in a 12-month period.

What GST Registration Means in Practice

You must register for an ABN and GST at abr.gov.au before your first trip
Uber collects GST from passengers on your behalf and remits it to the ATO
You lodge a quarterly Business Activity Statement (BAS) with the ATO
You can claim GST credits on business expenses (fuel, car servicing, etc.)

What Income Do I Need to Declare?

You must declare your gross income — the total amount Uber or the platform pays you before any fees, service charges, or deductions are taken out. Do not just declare what lands in your bank account.

Your annual income summary from the Uber driver app or DoorDash Dasher portal shows your gross earnings. This is the figure that goes into your tax return.

What Can I Claim as a Deduction?

This is where you can meaningfully reduce your tax bill. As a rideshare or delivery driver, you can claim deductions for expenses that are directly related to earning your income.

Expense	Deductible?	Notes
Fuel costs	✅ Yes	Business proportion only — keep a logbook
Car servicing & repairs	✅ Yes	Business proportion only
Car insurance	✅ Yes	Business proportion only
Car depreciation	✅ Yes	Requires logbook or cents-per-km method
Phone (work use)	✅ Yes	Percentage of use for driving/navigation
Platform fees & commissions	✅ Yes	Uber's service fee is deductible
Toll charges	✅ Yes	Only tolls incurred during trips
Car wash & cleaning	✅ Yes	Reasonable amounts, receipts required
Accountant fees	✅ Yes	100% deductible
Personal driving	❌ No	Private use cannot be claimed
Traffic fines	❌ No	Never deductible

The Logbook Method vs Cents Per Kilometre

For vehicle expenses you have two options:

Logbook method: Keep a 12-week logbook recording every trip (personal and business). Calculate the business percentage and apply it to all car costs. More work, but usually gives a higher deduction.
Cents per kilometre: Claim 88 cents per business kilometre (2025–26 rate), up to 5,000km per year. No logbook needed, but capped and may give a smaller deduction for high-mileage drivers.

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Tip: Most active Uber drivers benefit from the logbook method. If you drive 30,000km per year and 60% is for Uber, the logbook method lets you claim expenses on 18,000km of driving — far more than the 5,000km cents-per-km cap.

How Does Uber Income Affect My Tax Return?

Your Uber profit (revenue minus deductions) is added to any other income you earn — including your salary if you have a day job. This combined income is then taxed at your marginal rate.

If you also have a day job, your employer already withholds PAYG tax assuming your salary is your only income. Uber income sits on top of that, taxed at your highest marginal rate — often 32–47%.

This means every $100 of Uber profit could cost you $32–$47 in tax, depending on your total income. Knowing this in advance lets you set aside the right amount throughout the year rather than facing a surprise bill in July.

Find Out Exactly What You Owe

Use our free calculator to see how much extra tax your Uber or delivery income will add to your tax bill — including GST flags and quarterly payment estimates.

Calculate My Tax →

Key Dates to Remember

31 October: Individual tax return due (if lodging yourself)
May following year: Extended deadline if using a registered tax agent
Quarterly BAS lodgement: 28 October, 28 February, 28 April, 28 July

Quick Summary

Question	Answer
Must I declare Uber income?	✅ Yes — all of it, every year
Do I need an ABN?	✅ Yes — register before your first trip
Do I need to register for GST?	✅ Yes — rideshare drivers from day one
What about food delivery only?	Only once revenue hits $75,000/year
Can I claim car expenses?	✅ Yes — business proportion with logbook
When is tax due?	31 October or May if using a tax agent

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Bottom line: Declare your income, register for GST if you do rideshare, keep good records of your car expenses, and set aside roughly 30–40 cents from every dollar you earn. A registered tax agent familiar with gig economy income can often save you more than their fee.

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute tax or financial advice. Tax rules change regularly — always verify with the ATO or a registered tax agent for advice specific to your situation.