25/06/2026
Earning extra cash on the side? The ATO wants to know about it.
With the cost of living putting serious pressure on households, picking up a side hustle through the gig economy is an incredibly smart move.
But whether you are doing freelance work or renting out a spare room, there is one crucial rule you cannot ignore: you must report every single cent you earn to the ATO.
Digital platforms leave a clear paper trail, and the ATO is watching this space closer than ever. You need to declare any payments you receive for:
๐น Ride-sourcing and delivery services (like Uber, rideshare, or food delivery).
๐น Short-term accommodation or property sharing (like Airbnb).
๐น Renting out personal assets (like vehicles, equipment, or even a parking space).
๐น Creating or selling digital content and online goods.
๐น Task-based or freelance services arranged online (like Airtasker or Fiverr).
How do you actually report it?
๐๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐๐ก: You must include this in the 'Other income' section of your individual tax return.
๐๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐ผ๐น๐ฒ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ (๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐๐ก): Include it as business income in the 'Business and professional items' section of your individual return.
๐๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ป๐: This must be included as assessable income on your company tax return.
Review your income carefully and make sure everything from your digital platforms is accounted for before you hit submit.