Claiming GST on fuel and car costs as a gig worker

How business use works, and which car costs usually carry a GST credit.

Only the business part

If you also use your car privately, you can only claim the GST on the business share of your car costs. If 80% of your driving is for work, you claim 80% of the GST on your fuel.

Example: a $110 fuel receipt includes $10 GST. At 80% business use, your GST credit is $8.

Working out your business use

The most reliable way is a logbook: record every trip for a typical period and work out what share was for work. Use the same percentage consistently, and update it if the way you work changes. The ATO explains logbooks on its website.

Costs that usually include GST

• Fuel and EV public charging.
• Servicing, repairs, tyres and batteries.
• Car cleaning.
• Your phone and phone plan (business share).

Costs that are different

• Car registration: the registration fee generally has no GST, so there is no GST credit on it.
• Parking and tolls: claim only the ones for work trips.
• Platform fees: these are fully for your business, so their GST is claimed in full.

Keep your receipts

Keep the receipt or invoice for each cost, showing the supplier, date, amount and GST. Faded thermal receipts are hard to read later, so a quick photo when you get them helps.

How GigTics helps

Set your business-use percentages once in GigTics. Every fuel and car receipt you add after that has its GST credit worked out at that percentage, and parking and tolls are counted as work costs in full.

General information only, not tax advice. Rules can change and every situation is different: check ato.gov.au or ask a registered tax or BAS agent. Updated 18 October 2026.