Food delivery giant Zomato and its quick-commerce subsidiary Blinkit have successfully facilitated income tax return (ITR) filing for more than 100,000 delivery partners across 905 Indian cities. This significant effort has resulted in the processing of ₹18 crore in tax refunds for these gig workers, marking a major step towards financial inclusion for a large segment of the workforce.
The initiative for the Assessment Year 2026-27 highlights a critical push to bring gig workers into the formal financial ecosystem. Notably, approximately 73% of the delivery partners who filed their returns through this program were first-time ITR filers. Beyond securing refunds, establishing a documented financial history through ITR filing is crucial for accessing formal financial services such as personal loans, credit cards, and rental agreements.
"Delivery partners are at the centre of what we do, and we see it as our responsibility to support them well beyond their work on our platforms. Whether it is helping them build a formal financial record through ITR filing, or the welfare benefits and savings tools we offer through the app, our effort is to give delivery partners the security and financial standing they deserve," said Aditya Mangla, CEO of Zomato.
To streamline the process, Zomato and Blinkit integrated ITR filing directly into their respective Delivery Partner apps. This partnership with a third-party service offers a subsidised cost, allowing partners to initiate the filing digitally, verify details via OTP authentication, and complete submissions swiftly. Additional support is available through an in-app chatbot and a dedicated helpline.
The companies have also launched extensive awareness campaigns to encourage more workers to file their returns. These efforts include in-app notifications, testimonials from fellow delivery partners, and visual displays at Blinkit's dark stores.
This ITR filing support is part of a broader financial well-being program for delivery partners, which includes various welfare benefits such as:
- OPD coverage
- Medical and accident insurance
- Maternity insurance
- Paid period rest days for women delivery partners
Furthermore, financial products like fixed deposits, recurring deposits, and pension accounts under the gig-worker variant of the National Pension System (NPS) are also made available, underscoring a comprehensive approach to supporting their delivery fleet.