Hey everyone, if you’ve been picking up rideshare, food delivery, or odd jobs since arriving in Canada, you’re not alone. Many newcomers start here to make ends meet, but the tax side can be confusing—especially when you’re used to getting a T4 from a regular job.

First, if you’re driving for Uber, DoorDash, or similar, you’re likely self-employed, not an employee. That means you report your income, but you also need to track your expenses—gas, vehicle wear and tear, phone use, even parking fees. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) expects this, and keeping records helps you claim real deductions.

Another thing people miss: GST/HST. If your earnings go over $30,000 in a year, you’re required to register and collect GST/HST. Even if you’re under that, you might still want to register if you’re claiming input tax credits on business expenses. But it’s not automatic—check your situation.

I’ve seen people just report the gross amount and wonder why their tax refund is smaller than expected. That’s often because they didn’t account for the fact that you need to set aside money for taxes—usually around 15–25%, depending on your province and income level.

So here’s what I’m wondering:

- How do you track your expenses when you’re doing multiple gig jobs? Do you use an app, a spreadsheet, or just notes?
- Have you ever been surprised by a tax bill because you didn’t reserve money for it?
- Did you know your vehicle costs can be deducted even if you use a personal car for work?

If you’ve been doing this for a while, how did you figure out what to report and what to keep? Share your experience—especially if you’ve made a mistake and learned from it. Let’s help each other avoid the same trap.