Driving for Uber, Ola, or Didi? Whether it’s your full-time hustle or a side gig, you’re classed as a sole trader — and that means you can claim back a range of business expenses at tax time.
The ATO treats rideshare drivers just like any other small business owner, so it’s up to you to track income, report GST, and claim eligible deductions.
Here’s a breakdown of what you can and can’t claim — so you can hold onto more of what you earn.
✅ You Must Register for GST — Even Under $75,000
First things first: if you drive for rideshare, you must register for GST. This rule applies even if you earn under the usual $75,000 threshold.
Why? Because the ATO considers rideshare a taxable supply of transport.
So, you’ll need to:
- Register for an ABN and GST
- Lodge Business Activity Statements (BAS) — usually quarterly
- Include 10% GST on your fares
- Claim back GST on eligible expenses (fuel, car maintenance, etc.)
What Can Uber and Rideshare Drivers Claim?
To be deductible, expenses must:
- Be related to your driving business
- Be paid out of your own pocket
- Have a record (receipt or log)
Here’s what you can usually claim:
🚗 Vehicle Expenses
You can claim:
- Fuel
- Registration and insurance
- Repairs and maintenance
- Car cleaning
- Tyres
- Depreciation or lease costs
- Interest on a car loan
You’ll need to choose one of two methods:
- Cents per kilometre method (88c/km, up to 5,000km — simple but limited)
- Logbook method (more accurate — claim actual work % of all expenses)
💡 Pro tip: Most Uber drivers prefer the logbook method — especially if you drive full-time.
🧾 Rideshare-Specific Costs
You can also claim:
- Uber service fees and commissions
- Tolls and parking (while working)
- Water, mints, phone chargers for passengers
- Car wraps or advertising
- Phone plans and data (portion used for rideshare apps)
🧼 Car Cleaning
Keeping your vehicle clean is essential to your work — and fully deductible.
This includes:
- Car washes
- Interior detailing
- Vacuuming equipment
- Cleaning products
Just remember: you can only claim the work-use portion.
🏠 Working from Home (Admin-Only)
If you do admin tasks at home (e.g. tracking expenses, lodging BAS, or updating your logbook), you can claim a portion of:
- Power
- Internet
- Phone calls
- Office equipment (chair, desk, printer)
Use the fixed rate method (70c per hour) or actual costs (if you keep detailed records).
🎓 ABN and Tax-Related Costs
You can claim:
- Accountant or BAS agent fees
- Tax return preparation (for the rideshare portion)
- ABN and GST registration-related costs
- Business bank account fees
❌ What You Can’t Claim
Some things aren’t deductible — even if they feel work-related:
- Personal driving (picking up your kids, shopping, etc.)
- Fines or speeding tickets
- Car repayments for private-use vehicles (only the business-use portion is deductible)
- Meals or snacks during your shift (unless travelling overnight)
🧮 How to Keep Records
The ATO expects rideshare drivers to keep:
- A logbook (if claiming actual vehicle costs)
- All receipts for fuel, tolls, insurance, etc.
- Uber summaries (weekly or monthly statements)
- Your BAS lodgements
- Proof of business use for expenses (especially phones, internet, etc.)
You can use:
- A spreadsheet
- A logbook app (like Driversnote or MileIQ)
- Uber’s built-in earnings summaries
🛑 ATO Red Flags for Rideshare Drivers
Watch out for:
- Claiming 100% of your car use with no logbook
- No receipts or records to back up your expenses
- Forgetting to lodge BAS if you’re registered for GST
- Underreporting your income (ATO gets data directly from Uber and other platforms)
The ATO runs data-matching programs with Uber and bank accounts — so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
✅ Rideshare Tax Checklist
- Logbook for work vs personal car use
- Receipts for fuel, rego, insurance, cleaning
- Uber/Didi/Ola statements
- Tolls and app-related expenses
- Phone and internet breakdown
- Accountant or BAS lodgement receipts
- Business bank fees and subscriptions
- Hours worked from home (for admin)
Make Tax Time Easy
Being your own boss comes with freedom — but also responsibility. Staying on top of your deductions can save you thousands, but you need to do it right.
At MyDigiTax, we help rideshare drivers across Australia stay compliant, claim everything they’re entitled to, and keep the ATO off their back.