Zomato And Blinkit Enable ₹18 Crore Income Tax Refunds For Delivery Partners Across 905 Cities

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Zomato and Blinkit have enabled more than 1,00,000 delivery partners across 905 cities to file income tax returns, facilitating ₹18 crore in refunds. The update was reported through the company-linked release on 3 August 2026 and adds a financial inclusion angle to India’s growing gig workforce. The companies supported delivery partners through in-app filing, third-party tax assistance, OTP-based verification, app notifications, posters, chatbot help and helplines.

The short-term impact is refund access. Many delivery partners may have had tax deducted or income records available but did not file returns earlier. The long-term impact is stronger income proof for credit cards, small loans, rental checks and other financial needs. The risk is also real. First-time filers can face refund delays if they choose the wrong ITR form, skip e-verification, enter an invalid bank account or fail to match income with AIS and Form 26AS.

What Happened In The Zomato And Blinkit ITR Drive?

Zomato and Blinkit supported delivery partners in filing ITRs across 905 cities, helping facilitate ₹18 crore in refunds. The drive reached more than 1,00,000 partners, and nearly 73% of them had no earlier ITR filing record on the platforms. That makes the update more than a seasonal refund story. It shows a large group of platform workers moving into documented tax filing for the first time.

The filing process was kept close to the worker’s daily app use. Delivery partners could access subsidised filing support through a third-party service, verify through OTP, use a chatbot, call helplines and follow reminders placed through app notifications and offline displays. For a worker finishing late-night orders in Jaipur, Surat, or Nagpur, that kind of guided route can be easier than searching for a local tax preparer days before the filing deadline.

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How Will This Affect Delivery Partners Across India?

For delivery partners, an ITR is often the first formal income document that looks acceptable to banks, NBFCs and landlords. A platform payout screenshot may show weekly earnings, but it does not always work during formal checks. An ITR gives the worker a yearly income record, tax status and verified filing trail. That can help when applying for a two-wheeler loan, a small personal loan, a rented room, or a credit product with basic documentation.

The bigger benefit may appear in smaller cities. The 905-city figure shows that the filing support did not stay limited to Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune or Hyderabad. Many partners in Tier 2 and Tier 3 locations earn regular income but do not know which form to file or how to read AIS. If app-based filing support keeps errors low, it can bring gig workers into formal finance without forcing them to depend only on cash records or informal borrowing.

What Do The Tax Numbers Show?

India’s tax system has already seen a wider shift towards digital filing. The Ministry of Finance said through the Press Information Bureau on 2 August 2024 that 7.28 crore ITRs were filed for AY 2024-25 till 31 July 2024, compared with 6.77 crore returns filed for AY 2023-24 till 31 July 2023. The same release recorded 58.57 lakh first-time filers.

This wider tax-filing trend gives context to the Zomato and Blinkit update. India already had more taxpayers filing online. The platform push brings that habit closer to workers who earn outside fixed salaries, especially delivery partners whose income may change every week.

Relevant Platform Tax Rule

TRACES, under the Income Tax Department, lists Section 194-O at 0.1% TDS from 1 October 2024, with a ₹5 lakh threshold for individual/HUF cases and 5% where PAN is invalid or unavailable

AY 2026-27 Filing Utility

The Income Tax Department portal lists the common offline utility for ITR-1, ITR-2, ITR-3 and ITR-4, with the latest utility version released on 17 July 2026

The table also shows why the filing drive needs accuracy, not only scale. A delivery partner may have income entries and TDS credits, but a refund can slow down if PAN, bank validation, income head or e-verification is handled wrongly.

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Why Does Correct ITR Filing Matter For Gig Workers?

Gig income is not always simple. A worker may deliver for one platform, earn incentives, receive referral payouts, have bank interest and maybe take up other app-based work in the same year. That income pattern can confuse a first-time filer. Filing a return without checking the correct income head can create avoidable trouble later.

A LoansJagat report dated 15 July 2026 also flagged that delivery workers, commission earners, freelancers and people selling products online may need separate income classification while filing ITR. This is where the Zomato and Blinkit drive adds practical value. It gives delivery partners a starting point, but the return still needs proper checking before submission.

What Happened Before This Update?

Before the Zomato and Blinkit filing drive became public, India had already built a stronger ITR filing pipeline through the e-filing portal. The Income Tax Department made AY 2026-27 filing utilities available for several forms, including ITR-1, ITR-2, ITR-3 and ITR-4. The common offline utility saw its latest version released on 17 July 2026, close to the July filing rush.

The earlier PIB update from 2 August 2024 showed rising return filing and first-time taxpayer participation. That old filing base helps explain why platform-led tax support is now possible. More people are using digital filing, but first-time gig workers still need help with form selection, AIS checks, TDS entries and final e-verification.

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What Are Stakeholders Saying?

Zomato CEO Aditya Mangla said delivery partners are a core part of the company’s work and linked the ITR effort with support beyond daily platform tasks. His statement placed formal income records, welfare support and app-based savings tools in the same frame. For delivery partners, that means the ITR drive is being presented as a wider financial support step, not only a tax refund campaign.

The Income Tax Department has also stressed return verification in its public communication. PIB’s 2 August 2024 release said e-verification starts return processing and refund issue, and asked taxpayers to verify pending ITRs within 30 days of filing. That reminder is especially useful for first-time delivery partner filers. Filing the return is only one step. Verification finishes the process.

What Should First-Time Filers Do Next?

Delivery partners should first download or check their Annual Information Statement and Form 26AS before filing. They should compare platform payouts, bank credits, TDS entries, incentives and any other income. If income comes from more than one platform, all entries should be counted. A refund claim based only on one app’s record may leave gaps.

The safest fix is basic record-keeping. Partners should keep PAN, Aadhaar-linked mobile access, bank details, payout statements and tax portal login ready before filing. If there is confusion between business income, presumptive income and other income, they should avoid guessing and take professional help. A clean ITR can help later. A careless one may bring notices, correction work or refund delay.

Conclusion

Zomato and Blinkit’s ITR filing drive gives India’s gig economy a stronger tax-record angle. More than 1,00,000 delivery partners across 905 cities filed returns, and ₹18 crore in refunds was facilitated. The money is useful, but the income record may help for longer.

The next step is careful filing. Delivery partners need correct forms, matched AIS and Form 26AS entries, valid bank details and timely e-verification. If platforms keep this support active beyond one filing season, more gig workers may move from informal income proof to formal financial records.

FAQs

What Did Zomato And Blinkit Do For Delivery Partners?

They helped more than 1,00,000 delivery partners file ITRs and claim refunds across 905 cities.

How Much Refund Was Facilitated Through This Drive?

The drive helped facilitate ₹18 crore in income tax refunds for Zomato and Blinkit delivery partners.

Why Is ITR Filing Useful For Delivery Partners?

An ITR gives yearly income proof for loans, rentals, credit cards and other financial checks.

What is the procedure to claim a TDS refund from Swiggy?

A Swiggy delivery partner must file an ITR to claim any TDS refund. Check AIS, Form 26AS, bank validation, income details and e-verify within 30 days.

Which ITR Form Should A Delivery Partner Use?

It depends on income type, total earnings and tax position. First-time filers should verify before filing.