Got a letter from the CRA asking for proof? What gig drivers should do
A review letter isn't an audit accusation. What the CRA usually asks drivers for, how to respond by the deadline, and how to send your logbook and receipts.
Before 2024, unreported gig income was hard for the CRA to spot. Now platforms report each seller's earnings, by quarter, with their SIN. Leaving that income off your return is much more likely to be noticed.
What usually happens first
The CRA compares what platforms reported with what you filed. If there's a gap, you'll typically get a letter proposing to add the missing income, reassess your return and charge the tax you owe, plus interest from the original due date.
The penalties
Repeated failure to report income. If you fail to report $500 or more on your return and had also failed to report income in one of the three previous years, the penalty is the lesser of:
- 10% of the amount you failed to report, or
- 50% of the difference between the understated tax and any tax withheld
False statements or omissions. If the CRA decides you knowingly left income out, or were grossly negligent, the penalty is the greater of $100 or 50% of the understated tax.
Late filing. If you owe tax and file late, the penalty is 5% of the balance owing plus 1% for each full month late, up to 12 months. It's higher if you've been penalized for late filing recently.
Interest. The CRA charges compound daily interest on unpaid tax, starting the day after the payment due date.
The way out: come forward first
The Voluntary Disclosures Program (VDP) lets you correct past returns before the CRA contacts you. Under rules in effect since October 1, 2025:
- Unprompted disclosures (you come forward on your own) can get 100% relief of penalties and 75% relief of interest.
- Prompted disclosures (after the CRA has contacted you about the issue, such as an educational letter) can get up to 100% penalty relief and 25% interest relief.
You still pay the tax itself. People already under audit or investigation for the same issue generally can't use the program.
If you forgot income on last year's return
For a simple mistake, you can change your return through CRA My Account or ReFILE in your tax software. Fixing it yourself before the CRA finds it is always cheaper.
GST/HST counts too
Rideshare drivers who never registered for GST/HST may owe tax on past fares as well. The VDP covers GST/HST too.
How MyGigLedger helps
MyGigLedger keeps every payout by platform and quarter, so your return lines up with what the apps report. If you're catching up on past years, it gives you organized numbers to take to a tax professional.
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.