Do NDIS support workers pay tax in Australia?+
Yes. If you work independently — through a platform like Mable or HireUp, or directly for participants — you're a sole trader, and your support-work income is assessable business income taxed at normal marginal rates. GST-free status is about GST only; it has nothing to do with income tax. You declare the full amount you were paid and then claim your work-related costs (travel between clients, training, insurance, phone) as deductions. Platforms report your payments to the ATO under the Sharing Economy Reporting Regime, so your income is visible before you lodge.
Is NDIS support work GST-free?+
Usually, yes. A support you provide is GST-free when the person has an NDIS plan in effect, the support is a reasonable and necessary support funded under that plan, there is a written service agreement between you and the participant (or their nominee), and the support is of a kind listed in the GST-free NDIS supports determination. Most personal care, community access and daily-living support meets this, so you do NOT add 10% GST to your invoices. This is the key difference from Uber (GST from the first dollar) and most Airtasker work.
Do I need to register for GST as an NDIS support worker?+
Only if your total business turnover reaches $75,000 in a 12-month period — but note the trap: GST-free NDIS income STILL counts toward that $75,000 threshold. So if you earn, say, $80,000 of GST-free NDIS support, you must register for GST and lodge a BAS even though the GST you collect on those supports is $0. Registering also lets you claim GST credits on your business purchases. Under $75,000, most support workers don't need to register.
Do NDIS support workers need an ABN?+
Yes — if you work independently you need an ABN, and platforms like Mable require one to create a profile and invoice. It's free at abr.gov.au and takes about 10 minutes. Select 'Individual (sole trader)' as the entity type. Without an ABN, a business or plan manager paying you may have to withhold 47% under the no-ABN withholding rule, and you can't invoice properly.
What can NDIS support workers claim as tax deductions?+
Common deductions: car travel between clients (88c/km for FY2025-26, 91c/km from 1 July 2026, up to 5,000 km, or the logbook method) — but not home-to-first-client commuting; phone and internet (work-use %); public liability and professional indemnity insurance; mandatory checks and training (first aid/CPR, manual handling, NDIS Worker Screening Check, Working With Children Check); PPE (gloves, masks, aprons); the platform service fee (e.g. Mable's fee); logo uniforms; and accountant/tax-agent fees. You can't claim ordinary clothes, private travel, or costs a participant reimbursed separately.
How much tax will I pay as an NDIS support worker?+
Tax is on your total taxable income (support work plus any other income) after deductions, using the ATO 2025-26 brackets: $0–$18,200 nil; $18,201–$45,000 at 16%; $45,001–$135,000 at 30%; $135,001–$190,000 at 37%; $190,001+ at 45%, plus 2% Medicare levy. Someone whose only income is $50,000 of support work pays roughly $6,538 including Medicare before deductions — and less once travel, training and insurance are claimed. Set aside around 20–30% of each payment for tax and super.
Does Mable or the NDIS pay my super?+
No. As an independent support worker you're a sole trader, so there's no employer super — you fund your own retirement. The tax-effective route is a personal concessional (before-tax) contribution, deductible against your income and taxed at just 15% inside super instead of your marginal rate; lodge a 'Notice of intent to claim a deduction' with your fund before you lodge your return. Putting a slice of each payment aside for super keeps you ahead.
