If you drive for Uber or DiDi in Australia, you're running a business — and that means quarterly BAS lodgements with the ATO. This guide walks you through exactly what a BAS is, when it's due, how to calculate your GST, and what expenses you can claim to reduce what you owe.
This guide is for general information only and does not constitute tax advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a registered tax agent or BAS agent.
A Business Activity Statement (BAS) is a form you submit to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to report and pay the GST you've collected from customers, minus any GST you can claim back on business expenses.
Most sole traders only need to register for GST once their annual turnover exceeds $75,000. However, rideshare and ride-sourcing drivers are a special case under Australian tax law. The ATO treats every dollar earned from ride-sourcing as a taxable supply, which means you must register for GST from the moment you start driving — regardless of how much you earn.
This applies whether you drive full-time, part-time, or just occasionally on weekends. If you earn money from Uber, DiDi, or any other ride-sourcing platform, you are required to be GST-registered and to lodge a BAS every quarter.
Rideshare drivers must register for GST from day one — there is no $75,000 threshold for ride-sourcing income under ATO rules.
Your BAS covers a three-month quarter of the Australian financial year. The due dates for each quarter are:
| Quarter | Period covered | Lodgement due |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 1 July – 30 September | 28 October |
| Q2 | 1 October – 31 December | 28 February |
| Q3 | 1 January – 31 March | 28 April |
| Q4 | 1 April – 30 June | 28 July |
Missing a BAS lodgement deadline can result in penalties and interest charges from the ATO. If you know you're going to miss a deadline, contact the ATO or your tax agent before the due date to arrange an extension.
GST is calculated as one-eleventh of the GST-inclusive amount. So for every dollar you earn from rideshare, approximately 9.09 cents is GST that belongs to the ATO.
For example, if you earned $1,100 in gross fares during a quarter:
On your BAS, you report the total GST collected from your income, then subtract the GST you can claim back on expenses. The result is what you pay to the ATO — or if your claimable GST is higher, what the ATO refunds to you.
RideLog calculates the GST component of every entry automatically. You just enter the total amount and we show you the GST breakdown, the ex-GST amount, and your running BAS position for the quarter.
When you buy things for your rideshare business, you can claim back the GST component of those purchases — this is called an input tax credit. The expenses must be related to your rideshare work and must have GST included (not all purchases do).
Vehicle registration is not subject to GST in Australia — it is a government fee and does not have a GST component. You cannot claim a GST credit on registration, though it may still be deductible for income tax purposes.
Download your earnings statement from the Uber driver app and DiDi driver app for the quarter. These show your gross fares, platform fees, tolls, and other income items. Log each item into RideLog under the correct category.
Gather your receipts and records for the quarter — fuel, insurance, phone bills, repairs. Log each expense in RideLog and apply the correct business use percentage. RideLog will calculate the claimable GST on each expense automatically.
Your net BAS position is: GST collected on income minus GST credits on expenses. RideLog shows you this figure in real time on the dashboard. If the result is positive, you owe that amount to the ATO. If negative, you're owed a refund.
You can lodge your BAS through myGov (linked to your ATO account), through the ATO Business Portal, through your registered tax agent, or through accounting software. Most drivers find it easiest to use a registered BAS agent who can review your figures and lodge on your behalf.
If you owe GST, you must pay by the lodgement due date to avoid interest charges. The ATO offers several payment methods including BPAY, credit card, and direct debit.
A common approach for rideshare drivers is to set aside approximately 10% of your weekly gross income into a separate savings account reserved for GST. This means when your quarterly BAS comes around, you're not scrambling to find the money.
For example, if you earn $800 in a week, transfer $80 into your GST savings account. Over a 13-week quarter, that's $1,040 sitting ready — which for most part-time drivers is more than enough to cover the GST payable after deductions.
Check your RideLog dashboard at the end of each month to see your running GST position. This lets you know exactly how much to set aside rather than guessing.
Failing to lodge a BAS on time or at all has serious consequences. The ATO can issue failure to lodge penalties, which start at one penalty unit (currently $313) per 28-day period the BAS is overdue. The maximum penalty is five penalty units ($1,565) per late BAS.
In addition, the ATO charges interest on any unpaid GST at the shortfall interest rate. If you have multiple overdue BAS periods, penalties and interest can add up quickly. The ATO does have a voluntary disclosure program — if you come forward before they contact you, penalties can often be reduced.
The key to a painless BAS lodgement is keeping records throughout the quarter rather than trying to reconstruct everything in the week before it's due. RideLog is designed around this habit.
Every time you finish a shift, spend 60 seconds logging your income. Every time you fill up the tank, log the expense. By the end of the quarter, your RideLog dashboard shows your complete income, expenses, GST collected, GST claimable, and net BAS position — all in one place. You can export an income statement to give your accountant or BAS agent, and they can lodge from there.
Free for Australian Uber and DiDi drivers. No spreadsheets, no accountant required for basic record-keeping.
Get started free →Yes. You can lodge your BAS yourself through myGov or the ATO Business Portal. However, many rideshare drivers find it worthwhile to use a registered BAS agent, at least for their first few lodgements, to make sure everything is being reported correctly.
If you have a regular PAYG job in addition to rideshare driving, you still need to lodge a BAS for your rideshare income. Your employer handles tax and super for your regular job, but your rideshare income is separate and must be reported through your BAS and annual tax return.
Uber Eats delivery is a slightly different situation. The ATO's mandatory GST registration rules specifically apply to ride-sourcing (transporting passengers). Delivery drivers may not be subject to the same mandatory GST registration requirement, but should confirm their obligations with the ATO or a tax agent as the rules can depend on individual circumstances.
The ATO website has a dedicated section for ride-sourcing drivers at ato.gov.au. You can also contact the ATO directly on 13 28 66, or engage a registered tax agent or BAS agent who specialises in gig economy workers.
This article was written by the RideLog team for general information purposes. It does not constitute tax advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a registered tax agent or BAS agent. Last updated April 2025.