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Overdue Tax Returns

Late Tax Returns for Uber Drivers and Gig Workers

Reviewed by , Registered Tax Agent 26188040Published 6 May 2026 · Last reviewed 13 June 20262 min read

ATO late lodgement penalty: up to $364 per 28 days, capped at $1,820 per document · interest 11.43% p.a. compounding daily · See how to remit them →

If you've earned through Uber, DoorDash, Menulog, Airtasker or similar platforms and haven't lodged, the ATO already has your earnings - platforms report income data directly under the Sharing Economy Reporting Regime. The catch-up move is to lodge with your full deduction picture before the ATO data-matches you into a default position with no deductions at all. The full catch-up process for overdue tax returns is set out in our service guide.

What the platforms have told the ATO about you

Ride-sourcing and delivery platforms report your identity and gross earnings to the ATO each year. Combined with bank data-matching, your gig income is effectively pre-disclosed. Drivers also have a special trap: ride-sourcing requires GST registration from the first dollar - no $75,000 threshold - meaning many drivers have unlodged BAS obligations they never knew existed.

The deductions that flip the result

Gig work is deduction-rich: the business-use share of fuel, servicing, insurance, registration and depreciation (or cents-per-km), platform commissions and service fees, phone and data, cleaning, tolls and parking, safety equipment, and delivery gear. Reconstructed properly across late years, these regularly turn scary gross-income figures into modest taxable outcomes - and sometimes refunds where you also had employee income with PAYG withheld.

Catching up the right way

We pull your ATO pre-fill and platform statements, rebuild each year's income and expenses, sort out any GST registration and BAS issues for ride-sourcing, lodge the lot, and apply for penalty remission. Most gig catch-ups are simpler than clients fear - the data trail platforms leave makes reconstruction fast.

Frequently asked questions

Does Uber really report my income to the ATO?
Yes - platform reporting to the ATO is mandatory, alongside long-running ATO data requests to ride-sourcing companies.
I only earned a few thousand - do I still need to lodge?
Gig income is assessable from the first dollar and generally must be declared, even alongside a normal job.
Do delivery riders need GST registration too?
Food delivery alone doesn't trigger the ride-sourcing GST rule - that applies to transporting passengers - but normal GST thresholds still apply.

General information only - not personal tax, financial or legal advice. Consider your own circumstances or speak to a registered tax agent. Remission of penalties or interest and payment plans are decisions of the ATO and outcomes can't be guaranteed.

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