06/10/2026
Side hustle or hobby? There’s an important difference at tax time. 👀
Making a little extra money on the side doesn’t automatically mean you’re running a business. Income from a genuine hobby may not be taxable.
But there’s no set dollar amount that makes a side hustle “tax free”.
If your activity is regular, organised, commercially focused and carried out with the intention of making a profit, the ATO may consider the income assessable – even if it’s not your main job.
And with data matching across banks, payment platforms and sharing-economy providers, assuming “it’s only a bit on the side” can be risky.
Online store, Airbnb, content creation, rideshare or something else?
If you’re unsure whether your extra income is a hobby, business or other assessable income, we can help you work it out and make sure you’re reporting it correctly.