Everything Australian Airtasker taskers need for tax: ABN, deductions (tools, materials, travel, insurance), GST rules, tax return lodgement, and exactly how much tax you'll pay.
Last updated: June 2026·Source: ATO, Airtasker AU
ABN
Recommended (free)
GST threshold
$75K (services)
Tools under $300
Instant deduction
Tax return due
October 31
On Airtasker you work as an independent contractor (sole trader), not an employee. No tax is withheld from your task payments — you declare the income and pay tax at lodgement (or via PAYG instalments if the ATO issues a notice).
Your taxable income = total task payments minus business deductions (tools, materials, travel between jobs, insurance, the Airtasker fee). Because task types vary widely, your deduction mix depends on the work you do.
The ATO data-matches with gig platforms, so your Airtasker earnings are reported automatically — declare the full amount and claim your costs.
Tools & equipment
Items under $300 are an immediate deduction; above $300 are depreciated over their effective life.
Materials & consumables
Cleaning products, screws, paint, packing supplies — anything you supply and aren't separately reimbursed for.
Vehicle — travel between jobs
Cents per km (88c, up to 5,000 km) or logbook method for travel between task locations. Not home-to-first-job commuting.
Public liability insurance
Premiums for liability or tool/equipment insurance covering your Airtasker work.
Airtasker service fee
The platform service fee deducted from your task payments is a deductible expense.
Protective gear & logo uniforms
Safety equipment and uniforms with a business logo.
Phone plan
Business-use % of your monthly plan (keep a 4-week diary).
Equipment depreciation
Higher-value gear (power tools, trailers) depreciated over time via the logbook of business use.
Accountant/tax agent fees
Fully deductible in the year paid.
Estimates for Airtasker as your only income source, before deductions, including 2% Medicare levy:
| Airtasker income | Income tax | Total (incl. Medicare) | Weekly burden |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20,000 | $288 | $866 | $17 |
| $30,000 | $1,888 | $2,488 | $48 |
| $40,000 | $3,488 | $4,288 | $82 |
| $50,000 | $5,088 | $6,088 | $117 |
| $60,000 | $8,088 | $9,288 | $179 |
| $80,000 | $14,088 | $15,688 | $302 |
Based on ATO 2025-26 Stage 3 brackets. Actual tax is lower after deductions (tools, materials, travel). Excludes HECS-HELP repayments if applicable.
ABN (recommended)
Free at abr.gov.au in ~10 minutes. Lets you invoice clients and avoids 47% no-ABN withholding if a business client pays you.
GST (conditional)
Register only if total turnover exceeds $75,000/year. Services have no mandatory GST-from-$1 rule. Most taskers don't register.
Tax return
Lodge via myTax (due Oct 31) or a tax agent (due May 15). Report earnings under ‘Business income’ and claim deductions by category.
Super (your responsibility)
No employer super. Make personal contributions before June 30 to claim a deduction — taxed at 15% vs your marginal rate.
Enter your task earnings, deductions, and other income to get an ATO-aligned tax estimate including Medicare and HECS-HELP.
Gig tax calculator →Yes — money you earn completing Airtasker tasks is assessable business income and must be declared, even if it's occasional side income on top of a regular job. The ATO's data-matching program collects payment data from gig platforms including Airtasker, so your earnings are visible to the ATO before you lodge. Declare the full amount you were paid for tasks; you then claim your costs (tools, materials, travel) as deductions. Not declaring it risks penalties of 25–75% of the shortfall plus interest.
Only if your total business/gig turnover exceeds $75,000 in a 12-month period. Airtasker provides services (cleaning, handyman, removals, assembly, admin), which fall under the standard $75,000 GST threshold — there is no mandatory GST-from-$1 rule like rideshare. Most casual taskers stay under the threshold and don't register. If you do exceed $75,000, register for GST, charge GST on your task prices, and claim GST credits on your business purchases via a BAS.
It depends on the tasks you do, but commonly: tools and equipment (immediate deduction under $300, or depreciated above that), consumables and materials you supply (cleaning products, screws, paint), the Airtasker service fee, public liability insurance, vehicle costs for travelling between jobs (cents per km up to 5,000 km at 88c, or logbook method), protective gear and uniforms with a logo, phone plan (business-use %), and accountant/tax-agent fees. You can't claim materials your client separately reimbursed, fines, ordinary clothing, or private travel.
Yes — premiums for public liability or tools/equipment insurance that covers your Airtasker work are fully deductible. Airtasker includes some insurance cover for certain task types, but many taskers (especially handypeople, cleaners and removalists) take out their own policy. The premium is a business expense in the year you pay it. Keep the policy schedule and payment receipt for your records.
You're not strictly required to have one to use Airtasker, but you should get one — it's free at abr.gov.au and takes about 10 minutes. With an ABN you operate properly as a sole trader and avoid problems if a client (especially a business) asks for an invoice. Without an ABN, a business client paying you may be required to withhold 47% under the 'no-ABN withholding' rule. An ABN also makes claiming deductions and tracking income far cleaner.
Tax is based on your total taxable income (Airtasker plus any other income) after deductions. For 2025-26: $0–$18,200 = 0%; $18,201–$45,000 = 16% over $18,200; $45,001–$135,000 = $4,288 + 30% over $45,000; $135,001–$190,000 = $31,288 + 37% over $135,000; $190,001+ = $51,638 + 45% over $190,000, plus 2% Medicare. Someone whose only income is $40,000 of task earnings pays roughly $3,488 + $800 Medicare = about $4,288 — and less after deducting tools, materials and travel.
No — taskers are independent contractors, so there's no employer super. You fund your own retirement. The most tax-effective method is a personal concessional (before-tax) contribution, taxed at 15% inside super instead of your marginal rate; lodge a 'Notice of intent to claim a deduction' with your fund before lodging your return. Putting aside a small percentage of each task payment for super and tax keeps you ahead of both.
Keep for 5 years: your Airtasker payment history, receipts for tools, equipment and materials, insurance policy and premium receipts, a vehicle logbook if using that method (plus fuel/servicing records), phone invoices with a business-use diary, and any invoices you issued. The ATO audits gig workers and will request evidence — clear photos or scans of receipts are accepted.
Log each task, track deductible tools, materials and travel, get a quarterly tax estimate, and chat with Felix — your AI CFO — about gig tax. Free on iOS and Android.
Get Richify free