Zomato, Blinkit delivery partners get ₹33.6 crore in tax refunds as 2.1 lakh file ITRs

Zomato and Blinkit have helped more than 2.10 lakh delivery partners file income tax returns for FY25-26, resulting in ₹33.6 crore in income tax refunds, as the food delivery and quick commerce companies expand financial support for their gig workforce.

More significantly, around 75% of those who filed their returns were first-time filers. That translates to roughly 1.57 lakh delivery partners entering the formal tax and financial system through the initiative.

On average, each delivery partner who filed received a refund of about ₹1,600, with tax deducted at source (TDS) applicable at a rate of 1%. 

“For many delivery partners, this may be their first experience with formal financial services. The aim is to make that experience useful and accessible, and help delivery partners get easier access to credit and become more financially secure over time,” said Aditya Mangla, CEO, Zomato.

Making ITR filing easier for gig workers

Zomato and Blinkit made the ITR filing service available at a subsidised rate through a third-party service provider. The process was designed to be entirely digital and self-serve, with delivery partners able to initiate the filing directly through the Zomato or Blinkit Delivery Partner apps.

The apps are integrated with a dedicated chatbot, through which partners can verify their details, authenticate themselves using an OTP and submit the required information within a few minutes. The chatbot also provides instant assistance, while a hotline is available for additional queries.

The companies are positioning ITR filing as part of a wider set of financial and welfare initiatives for their delivery partners. These include OPD cover, medical and accidental insurance, maternity insurance and paid period rest days for women delivery partners.

On the financial side, the initiatives include fixed and recurring deposits as well as pension accounts under the gig-variant National Pension Scheme.

For Eternal, the parent company of Zomato and Blinkit, the initiative comes as its businesses continue to rely on a large delivery workforce across food delivery and quick commerce. The company also operates going-out platform District and B2B supplies business Hyperpure.

With about three-fourths of the 2.10 lakh filers being first-timers, the initiative has also brought a sizeable section of the gig workforce into a formal financial process.