What you can claim.
Car expenses: pick your method first
You can claim car costs using the ATO's cents-per-kilometre method or the logbook method. Cents-per-km is simpler but caps the kilometres you can claim each year; the logbook method takes more record-keeping but usually pays off for full-time drivers. Either way, only kilometres driven while you're logged in and working count — so track them from day one.
Running costs under the logbook method
Under the logbook method you claim the work-use percentage of everything your car costs to run: fuel, servicing, tyres, registration, insurance, depreciation on the car itself and interest on any car loan. Keep every receipt — fuel dockets fade, so photograph them — and let your logbook set the percentage. For serious drivers this is usually the bigger claim.
Platform commissions and service fees
The commission Uber, DiDi, DoorDash or Menulog takes before paying you is deductible, along with booking fees, split-fare fees and other platform charges you bear. Many drivers miss these because the money never lands in their account. Download each platform's annual tax or earnings summary — it lists gross fares and fees separately, which is exactly what your return needs.
Phone, plan, mounts and chargers
Your phone is your dispatch system, so the work portion of your handset, plan and data is claimable, plus mounts, cradles, car chargers and cables. Work out a reasonable work-use percentage from a typical month and keep the receipts. If the phone itself was expensive, its cost may need to be claimed as depreciation over time rather than upfront.
Insulated bags and delivery gear
Delivery drivers can claim insulated food bags, phone holders, portable chargers and safety gear like hi-vis vests or a helmet if you ride. Bike and scooter couriers can also claim running costs and repairs on their ride, apportioned to work use. Keep receipts — these small purchases add up across a year of shifts.
Tolls and parking on the job
Tolls you pay while on a trip or heading to a pickup are deductible, and so is parking while you work — think airport waiting areas or paid parking during a delivery. Parking and speeding fines are never deductible, no matter when they happen. Your toll-tag statement is good evidence, so keep it with your records.
Passenger extras and car cleaning
Rideshare drivers can claim the cost of keeping passengers comfortable: bottled water, mints, tissues and charging cables offered in the car, plus car washes and interior cleaning to platform standard. Apportion cleaning if the car doubles as your personal vehicle. Keep receipts even for small supermarket runs — purchases with no record generally can't be claimed.
What you generally can't claim
You generally can't claim meals and coffee bought during shifts, everyday clothes, fines, or the cost of getting your standard driver's licence. Travel from home before you log on, and home again after you log off, is usually private — like any commute. And if you use cents-per-km, you can't claim fuel or servicing on top; that method already covers running costs.
GST and ATO data matching: the fine print
Rideshare is 'ride-sourcing' in the ATO's eyes, which means you must register for GST from your first fare, whatever you earn — a rule that doesn't apply to delivery-only drivers. Platforms also report your income straight to the ATO under the sharing economy reporting regime, so your return needs to match. Get an ABN, lodge your BAS and declare everything.
What to have ready.
- Annual tax or earnings summary from every platform you drove for (Uber, DiDi, Ola, DoorDash, Menulog, Amazon Flex)
- Your logbook and odometer readings, if you're using the logbook method
- Receipts for fuel, servicing, tyres, insurance and registration, plus car loan or finance statements
- Toll-tag and parking statements or receipts covering your work periods
- Receipts for your phone, plan, mounts, chargers, insulated bags and other gear
- Your ABN details and BAS lodgements, if you're GST-registered for rideshare
Start your tax return.
Answer simple questions online — tick “Ask my accountant” on anything you’re unsure about. A real accountant reviews your return and emails you. Nothing is charged until your final fee is confirmed.
Start for $99Common questions.
Do I have to register for GST to drive for Uber?
Yes — the ATO treats rideshare as ride-sourcing, so GST registration is required from your first fare, regardless of how much you earn. You'll need an ABN and to lodge business activity statements. Delivery-only work (food or parcels, no passengers) follows the normal GST turnover rules instead. If you do both, it's worth getting advice on your setup — it trips up plenty of new drivers.
Should I use the logbook method or cents per kilometre?
It depends on how much you drive. Cents-per-km is simple but capped, so full-time drivers usually claim more with a logbook, which lets you deduct a work-use share of fuel, servicing, insurance, depreciation and loan interest. Keep the logbook diligently for the required period and hold onto receipts. If you're unsure, choose 'Ask my accountant' in your MYIDTAX return and we'll work it out with you by email.
Does the ATO know how much I earned from Uber or DoorDash?
Yes. Under the sharing economy reporting regime, platforms report driver income directly to the ATO, and it's matched against tax returns. Leaving off a platform — even one you only drove for briefly — is likely to trigger a please-explain letter or an amended assessment. Declare income from every app, claim the deductions you're entitled to, and keep records so your numbers hold up.
How does MYIDTAX work for rideshare and delivery drivers?
You answer plain-English questions online — income from each platform, your car method, the gear you bought — in about four minutes, from $99. Not sure about something like GST or the logbook method? Choose 'Ask my accountant' and move on. A real accountant reviews everything and emails you before anything is lodged. Your final fee is confirmed by email first, then you pay a secure Stripe invoice — nothing is charged upfront.
This guide is general information only and doesn’t consider your personal circumstances — it isn’t tax advice. Eligibility rules, rates and thresholds change; your accountant confirms what applies to you before anything is lodged. Keep receipts for everything you claim.