Delivery platforms have collectively helped over 2.1 lakh partners file ITRs for FY2025-26, unlocking approximately ₹35.6 crore in income-tax refunds. According to latest reports from Mint, Eternal (which operates Zomato and Blinkit) facilitated these filings, with around 75% first-time filers among those who filed through their initiatives. The platforms deduct tax at source (TDS) from payments made to delivery partners, with companies like Zomato reporting an average refund of around ₹1,600 per partner, with TDS deducted at an applicable rate of 1%. These initiatives are aimed at helping delivery partners claim refunds where tax deducted from their payouts exceeds their final tax liability, while also making the tax-filing process more accessible.
The scale of this shift is evident in filing data from ClearTax, which works with gig platforms to help workers file returns. As reported by The Economic Times, filings through ClearTax's platform more than quadrupled in three years — from 2.5 lakh in assessment year 2023-24 (FY2022-23) to 5.5 lakh in AY2025-26 (FY2023-24) and approximately 11 lakh in AY2026-27 (FY2025-26). According to Avinash Polepally, vice-president of product and business at ClearTax, most workers filing through these platforms are below taxable income thresholds. Some workers earn through multiple platforms, while others may also have gaming winnings or capital gains to report, with one unusual case involving a worker receiving a refund of ₹5.4 lakh from multiple income sources.
Beyond Eternal's 2.1 lakh partners, other major platforms have reported significant filing volumes. Swiggy said more than 50,000 food-delivery and Instamart partners filed returns through its app, generating ₹6.5 crore in refund claims, with more than one-third of these workers being first-time filers. Zepto reported 30,895 filings in 2026 with refund claims exceeding ₹4.9 crore. Meesho's logistics arm, Valmo, has launched an initiative to simplify income tax return filing for its delivery partners, with 10,000 Valmo delivery partners initiating their ITR filing since the programme's launch in July 2026, claiming refunds worth ₹2 crore so far. The subsidised filing service is integrated into delivery-partner apps, allowing workers to enter the process, verify their details through an OTP and complete their filing with chatbot assistance.
The benefits of filing extend beyond TDS refunds to create formal financial records that support credit applications and visa documentation. As reported by The Economic Times, a filed tax return can create a formal financial record that may help when applying for credit, with some workers also filing before seeking jobs in West Asia, where documentation supports visa applications. Zomato CEO Aditya Mangla noted that for many delivery partners, this may be their first experience with formal financial services. To ensure easy accessibility, platforms have implemented multiple support channels, with Zomato and Blinkit making filing available at subsidised rates through third-party service providers, while Swiggy partnered with ClearTax, TaxBuddy and Dvara Money for their filing facility. Communications are rolled out in seven languages: English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi and Bengali.
The growing adoption of tax filing services points to a broader transformation in India's gig economy, where tax compliance is increasingly integrated into digital infrastructure. According to Mint, a record over 7.8 crore ITRs have been filed for AY27 till August 31, representing an increase from the over 7.3 crore ITRs filed by the deadline last year. This shift signifies growing tax compliance within India's gig economy, with tax filing becoming part of workers' day-to-day experience. However, experts note that while these initiatives demonstrate selective financial inclusion, they represent a convenient interpretation rather than comprehensive financial inclusion. The platforms plan to explore further initiatives focused on the financial wellbeing and longer-term economic participation of their delivery partners, with companies like Meesho wanting to make ITR filing simpler and more accessible as their networks grow, supporting partners' long-term financial aspirations through formal financial services.
