Yes. Uber, rideshare and delivery drivers are self-employed, so for a home loan lenders assess them like other sole traders: on taxable income from tax returns, with one to two years of history, not on the fares shown in the app. Car costs and fuel reduce the income lenders count. Driving as a second job alongside a salaried role is often easier to get counted.

Rideshare income and home loans at a glance
Item How lenders usually treat it
Fares in the app Not used directly
Taxable income from tax returns The figure most lenders use
Time driving Commonly one to two years; some lenders accept less
GST You must be registered from the first ride
Car finance Counted as a commitment

Why are rideshare drivers treated as self-employed?

Because they are, for tax. The ATO says rideshare drivers must have an ABN and be registered for GST from the day they start, whatever they earn, unless they are an employee. GST applies to every dollar of fares. Income is declared in a tax return, and expenses are claimed for the share of time spent driving.

Which income do lenders count?

Most lenders work from your tax returns and notices of assessment. That means the net figure after expenses such as fuel, servicing, insurance, depreciation and platform fees. If your app shows $60,000 of fares but your tax return shows $38,000 of taxable income after car costs, lenders start from $38,000. Some lenders add back depreciation, because it is not a cash cost.

How much difference does that make?

On the site’s borrowing model at a 9% assessment rate, a single applicant with no other debts could borrow about $58,700 on $38,000 of income, against about $199,700 if $60,000 were counted. That is why claimed expenses, add-backs and a second income matter so much for drivers. The borrowing power calculator gives a first estimate.

What if driving is your second job?

Many drivers have a salaried job and drive part time. Lenders count the salary in full and add rideshare income if it is consistent and shown in tax returns, often after one to two years. The second job and multiple income page explains how lenders combine incomes.

What should you prepare?

  • Two years of personal tax returns and notices of assessment, or one with a lender that accepts it.
  • The platform’s annual tax summaries.
  • BAS statements showing GST lodged.
  • Bank statements showing the platform payments arriving.
  • Details of any car loan or lease.

The self-employed document checklist lists the full set.

What if you have driven for less than a year?

A few lenders consider one year of tax returns, and some will look at recent BAS and bank statements under alternative documentation. These usually mean a larger deposit or a slightly higher rate. The article on buying with one year of self-employed income walks through an example.

How do lenders read BAS for drivers?

Because drivers lodge BAS, lenders sometimes use recent BAS statements to check that income is continuing at the level shown in the last tax return, especially if the return is more than a year old. A clear drop in recent quarters can lower the figure a lender uses. Lodging BAS on time and keeping GST separate from your spending money also shows the kind of organised finances lenders like to see. Running driving income and costs through one account makes the bank statements easy to read.

Do car loans hurt your application?

Yes, the repayment on a car loan or lease counts against your borrowing power, even though the car earns your income. Every $100 a month of repayment reduces a home loan limit by roughly $12,400 at a 9% assessment rate. If the car is nearly paid off, finishing it before you apply can help.

Questions people ask

Can Uber drivers get a home loan in Australia?

Yes, as self-employed borrowers, usually on taxable income from tax returns.

Do lenders use my Uber earnings statement?

As supporting evidence, yes, but the income figure usually comes from your tax return after expenses.

Does delivery driving count the same way?

Delivery work as a contractor is assessed the same way, on taxable income. Some delivery work is employment, which is assessed from payslips instead.

Charles Touma reads your tax returns the way a lender will, and looks for the lenders that add back what they can. A free 30-minute call covers what your driving income can support. General information only, not credit or tax advice.

Sources: ATO, ride-sourcing; ASIC, Regulatory Guide 209, checked 18 October 2026.

General information only, not credit, legal or tax advice. Your situation is assessed properly before any recommendation. Government scheme details change; figures are current at the time of writing.