If you drive for food delivery companies in New Zealand, like Uber Eats, DoorDash or Menulog, then you’re self-employed. This means that you are in charge of filing and managing your own taxes. Let’s see how you pay your taxes as an Uber Eats delivery driver in New Zealand.
1. Understand Your Tax Status (Self-Employed in NZ)
When you work as a food delivery driver, you are not an employee. You are a sole trader. This means:
No employer deducts tax for you
You must report your income yourself
You pay tax at the end of the financial year
In New Zealand, the tax year runs from 1 April to 31 March.
You will file your income with the Inland Revenue Department (IRD).
2. Register for an IRD Number (If You Don’t Have One)
Before filing taxes, you must have an IRD number for self-employed drivers.
If you already worked in NZ before, you probably have one. If not, you can apply online through IRD.
Some drivers also need to register for GST for food delivery drivers NZ if their income goes above $60,000 per year.
3. Keep track of what amount of money you make from food delivery
In New Zealand, you have to tell the government how much money you make from food delivery. This includes:
All payments received from delivery apps
Bonuses and incentives
Tips (if received through the platform)
Download your annual summary from the delivery app dashboard. This helps when filing your IR3 tax return for delivery drivers.
4. Claim Business Expenses (Very Important)
Many drivers don’t realise that they can reduce their tax by claiming expenses. This is where you can legally save your money.
Common tax deductions for food delivery drivers NZ include:
Fuel costs
Vehicle repairs and maintenance
Car insurance
Registration and WOF
Mobile phone bills (business portion)
Parking fees
Accounting fees
If you use your car for both personal and business use, you can claim either:
IRD kilometre rate method, or
Actual vehicle expenses (based on business percentage)
Keeping receipts and records is very important in case IRD asks for proof.
5. File Your IR3 Tax Return
As a self-employed Uber Eats Driver, you must file an IR3 Individual tax return.
You can file:
Through your myIR account online
With the help of a tax accountant
Steps to file tax return as a delivery driver in NZ:
Log into myIR
Declare your total income
Add your business expenses
Submit your return
The deadline is usually 7 July (unless you use a tax agent, then you may get an extension).
6. Pay Income Tax and ACC
After you file, the IRD will figure out how much tax you owe.
As a delivery driver, you might have to pay:
Income tax (based on New Zealand’s tax rates)
ACC fees for drivers who work for themselves in New Zealand
If you get hurt while working, ACC will pay for it.
Note: In New Zealand, you may also have to pay provisional tax, which means paying taxes in installments throughout the year.
7. Do You Need GST?
After that, you will:
Add GST to the price of your services
File your GST returns every two or six months.
Get GST back on the costs of running your business
A lot of drivers ask, “Do Uber Eats drivers need GST NZ?” The answer depends on how much money you make each year.
