What happens if you don't report your gig income?
The platforms report your earnings, so the CRA can match them to your return. The penalties for leaving income off, and how the Voluntary Disclosures Program can cut them.
The CRA reviews many returns every year, before and after it sends a notice of assessment. Self-employed returns with large vehicle expenses are common picks. A letter asking for documents doesn't mean you did anything wrong. It means the CRA wants to see proof.
Don't ignore it
Every letter has a deadline, usually about 30 days. If you don't respond, the CRA will typically disallow what it asked about and reassess you. If you need more time, call the number on the letter before the deadline and ask.
What drivers are usually asked for
- Your mileage logbook, showing date, destination, purpose and kilometres for business trips
- Odometer readings from the start and end of the year
- Receipts for fuel, repairs, insurance and other vehicle costs
- Platform statements showing your income and the fees the platform kept
- Your phone bill, and how you worked out the business share
How to respond
- Read exactly what's being asked. Answer that, and only that.
- Organize your documents in the order the letter lists them.
- Write a short cover note. Explain how you calculated your business-use percentage and anything unusual, like a big repair.
- Submit online. In CRA My Account, use Submit documents and enter the case or reference number from the letter. It's faster than mail and you get confirmation.
- Keep copies of everything you send.
If your records are incomplete
Send what you have. If your logbook has gaps, platform trip data, calendar entries and fuel receipts can help support your kilometres. Be honest about how you reconstructed anything. A reasonable, well-explained estimate is better than nothing, though the CRA may reduce the claim.
If you disagree with the result
If the CRA reassesses you and you disagree, you can file a notice of objection. The deadline is generally 90 days from the date on the notice of reassessment, or one year from your original filing due date, whichever is later.
Prevention is easier
The best response to a review is records made at the time: a logbook kept as you drove, receipts photographed when you got them, and statements saved from each app.
How MyGigLedger helps
MyGigLedger's CRA logbook export gives you every business trip with the fields the CRA asks for, and Pro keeps a photo with every scanned receipt. If a letter arrives, your response is mostly an export.
Sources
This article is general information based on CRA guidance as of September 29, 2026. It isn't tax advice. Rules change, and your situation may differ, so check with the CRA or a tax professional before you file.