Common Dasher Tax Questions (Australia)
Disclaimer: As independent contractors, Dashers have the responsibility to keep track of their earnings and to accurately report them in their tax filings. Any questions about what you have to report on your taxes should be directed to a tax professional, as DoorDash cannot provide you with tax advice. You are also free to conduct your own research, as there are many publicly available articles online. Please note that we cannot verify the accuracy of the content contained in publicly available sources of information and again, we advise you to seek the advice of a tax professional if you have further questions. |
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) |
myGov |
Does DoorDash pay tax for me? |
Do I need to lodge a tax return? |
How do I complete my tax return? |
How much tax do I pay? |
Can I pay my tax in instalments? |
Can I get a copy of my Earnings Statement? |
What deductions can I claim? |
What is GST registration and do I need to apply? |
How do I apply for an Australian Business Number (ABN) |
How can I get help and support completing my tax return? |
Useful Links |
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is the official tax and superannuation administration of the Australian Government, and is best placed to answer your tax-related questions. Contact the ATO here.
myGov
myGov is a secure way to access government services online in one place, including the Australian Taxation Office. You can login or create a myGov account here: https://my.gov.au/LoginServices/main/login
Does DoorDash pay tax for me?
No. As an independent contractor you are responsible for paying your taxes. You can view the Independent Contractor Agreement here.
Do I need to lodge a tax return?
You may be able to use the ATO Do I need to lodge tool to determine whether your income from Dashing is assessable and requires reporting in your annual tax return. It is important to check your requirements, even if you're Dashing on a casual basis to supplement your income from another opportunity or other business activities.
You can also find out more information here about how to pay the ATO, how much to pay, and what happens if you don’t.
How do I complete my tax return?
DoorDash does not provide Dashers in Australia with a form to file your taxes.
You can find more information about how to complete your tax return on the ATO website, including any forms you may need to complete.
Sole-traders may be able to lodge their tax return online with myTax.
How much tax do I pay?
Find out more about how much tax you owe here.
Can I pay my tax in instalments?
You can find out more on the ATO website about paying tax by instalments and Pay as you go (PAYG).
Can I get a copy of my Earnings Statement?
DoorDash does not provide Dashers with an earnings statement. As independent contractors, Dashers have the responsibility to keep track of their earnings and to accurately report them in their tax filings.
Your earnings are visible in the Deposits and Transfers section of your Dasher app.
What deductions can I claim?
You may be able to deduct expenses from your earnings and only pay taxes on what’s left. If you keep track of things like your kilometres travelled and vehicle costs, this could add up to substantial savings come tax season.Consult a tax professional to understand the costs that may be eligible for full or partial deductions.
Please see the following for more information:
Income and deductions (for business)
Deductions you can claim (for individuals)
You can keep track of your expenses and deductions on the ATO App and the myDeductions tool.
What is GST registration and do I need to apply?
GST stands for Goods and Services Tax. It is a consumer-based 10% tax on most goods and services.
There are certain requirements that determine whether you need to apply for GST. This can vary depending on the level of income you earn and activity you do under your ABN. See here for more information.
If you are a business registered for GST, you may need to lodge a business activity statement (BAS). Find out more here.
The ATO also runs live webinars on Goods and services tax (GST) introduction, which covers who needs to register for GST, when and how to register, and your ongoing GST obligations.
How do I apply for an Australian Business Number (ABN)
Dashers in Australia are required to have an Australian business number (ABN) to start Dashing. You can find out more about your business registration obligations here.
If you don’t have an Australian Business Number, applying for one is free and easy, and is required to start Dashing. You can apply for an ABN with the Australian Business Register here.
Have your Tax File Number Ready; this will help expedite the application.
Once submitted, if successful you should receive your ABN immediately.
To learn more about this, go to How to Apply for an ABN.
How can I get help and support completing my tax return?
Everyone's tax circumstances are different and DoorDash cannot provide you with tax advice. You are also free to conduct your own research, as there are many publicly available articles online. Please note that we cannot verify the accuracy of the content contained in publicly available sources of information.
The ATO has a lot of self-help resources, plus other service options for getting tax and super support. You can also find tax and super answers with the ATO Community.
We advise you to seek the advice of a tax professional if you have further questions.
Useful Links
Below is a selection of links from the ATO and Australian government that may potentially be useful to you. You are also free to conduct your own research, as there are many publicly available articles online. Please note that we cannot verify the accuracy of the content contained in publicly available sources of information. We advise you to seek the advice of a tax professional if you have further questions.
ATO contact: https://www.ato.gov.au/About-ATO/Contact-us/
myGov: https://my.gov.au/LoginServices/main/login
How to lodge your tax return (individuals): https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Your-tax-return/How-to-lodge-your-tax-return/
Reporting and paying tax (businesses): https://www.ato.gov.au/Business/Starting-your-own-business/Reporting-and-paying-tax/
Do I need to lodge tool: https://www.ato.gov.au/calculators-and-tools/do-i-need-to-lodge-a-tax-return/
Paying the ATO: https://www.ato.gov.au/General/Paying-the-ATO/
ATO Forms & Instructions: https://www.ato.gov.au/Forms/
Lodge your tax return online with myTax: https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Your-tax-return/How-to-lodge-your-tax-return/Lodge-your-tax-return-online-with-myTax/
myTax instructions (for individuals): https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/myTax/
Deductions you can claim (for individuals): https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Income-and-deductions/Deductions-you-can-claim/
Income and deductions (for business): https://www.ato.gov.au/Business/Income-and-deductions-for-business/
The sharing economy and tax: https://www.ato.gov.au/General/The-sharing-economy-and-tax/
GST: https://www.ato.gov.au/Business/GST/
Online Services for Businesses: https://www.ato.gov.au/General/Online-services/Businesses/
Tax differences between a sole trader and a company: https://business.gov.au/planning/business-structures-and-types/business-structures/tax-differences-between-a-sole-trader-and-a-company
Sole Traders: https://www.ato.gov.au/business/starting-your-own-business/before-you-get-started/choosing-your-business-structure/sole-trader/
Starting your own business: https://www.ato.gov.au/Business/Starting-your-own-business/
ATO Small business webinars and workshops: https://www.ato.gov.au/Business/Starting-your-own-business/Small-business-webinars-and-workshops/
ATO podcast – Tax inVoice: https://www.ato.gov.au/Media-centre/Video-and-audio-files/ATO-podcast---Tax-inVoice/
