Zomato and Blinkit said more than 2.10 lakh delivery partners filed ITRs for FY2025-26 through their initiative, helping unlock around ₹33.6 crore in income-tax refunds. Around 75% of those who filed were first-time ITR filers, the companies said.
Swiggy said more than 50,000 delivery partners across its Food Marketplace and Instamart businesses used its delivery partner app to file ITRs and claimed a combined ₹6.5 crore in tax refunds. More than one-third of these delivery partners filed their ITRs for the first time, it said.
Meanwhile, Valmo, Meesho’s logistics arm, said around 10,000 delivery partners had initiated ITR filing since its programme was launched in July, with refunds worth around ₹2 crore claimed so far. Nearly 70% of those who initiated filing were first-time tax filers, according to the company.
The 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.
TDS refunds for delivery partners
Delivery platforms may deduct tax at source (TDS) from payments made to delivery partners. The companies said the filing facilities helped partners claim refunds on eligible excess TDS.
Zomato said the average refund for a delivery partner who filed through its facility was around ₹1,600, with TDS deducted at an applicable rate of 1%.
Swiggy similarly said its delivery partners used the facility to claim refunds on the 1% TDS deducted from their payouts during the financial year.
Valmo said its initiative was aimed at helping partners understand and fulfil applicable tax-filing obligations and claim refunds of excess TDS where eligible.
First-time tax filers
A common feature across the initiatives is the proportion of delivery partners filing ITRs for the first time.
Zomato and Blinkit reported around 75% first-time filers, while Valmo said nearly 70% of those who initiated filing were first-time tax filers. Swiggy reported that more than one-third of its users were first-time filers.
The platforms said ITR filing can also help delivery partners establish a formal record of income. Such documentation may be relevant when accessing financial services that require income records, although filing an ITR does not by itself guarantee access to credit or other financial products.
How are platforms facilitating ITR filing?
Zomato and Blinkit made the filing service available at a subsidised rate through a third-party service provider. Delivery partners could initiate the process through their respective apps, with a chatbot assisting them through verification and submission.
Swiggy partnered with ClearTax, TaxBuddy and Dvara Money to offer the filing facility through its delivery partner ecosystem.
Valmo reached delivery partners through WhatsApp and its internal Training Management System, offering access to the ClearTax platform. Communications were provided in seven languages — English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi and Bengali.
