Whether you are an Uber driver, a tradesperson, or a small business owner coping with clients and invoices, you are your own boss. But with that freedom come paperwork, and let’s be honest, admin can be stressful. A tradie might say that the work is fine, it is just the admin that kills me. An Uber driver could say, “I am good with driving, but I hate all the admin like receipts and tax stuff. And their concern does make sense as from working out weekly pay to calculating GST and lodging BAS, it sometimes feels like they are spending more time with spreadsheets than with customers. However, when there is a well, there is a way. The good news is with the right tools and a few simple habits, you can take control of your money, save time, and even make your accountant’s life easier.
Why Admin Feels Overwhelming?
For most workers, tax and all other stuff are automatically handled by their employer. But if you are self-employed or running a business, you are the boss, the accountant, and the bookkeeper all in one. Also, you still have to find time to do the actual work that earns money. No wonder so many Australians find admin overwhelming. Apart from that, you have to look after the following at once:
- Recording income from multiple jobs or clients.
- Tracking expenses (fuel, tools, insurance, subscriptions).
- Calculating GST if you are registered.
- Lodging your Business Activity Statement (BAS) every month or quarter.
As we have mentioned BAS, majority of you might not have an idea what it is and how it works. So, let’s understand BAS lodgment first.
What is BAS Lodgment?
The Business Activity Statement (BAS) is how businesses report their GST to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Depending on your business size, you will lodge monthly, quarterly, or annually.
How It Works:
BAS lodgement is quite straightforward process once you break it down. First, you calculate the GST collected on your sales, then work out the GST paid on your business expenses, and subtract the two. If you collected more than you paid, the difference is what you owe the ATO, but if you paid more than you collected, you are entitled to a refund. For example, if an Uber driver or tradie collected $4,000 in GST from jobs but spent $2,500 on work-related expenses, the net GST payable would be $1,500. The timing also matters: if you report quarterly, BAS is due 28 days after the end of each quarter (so the March 31 quarter is due April 28), while monthly lodgers must submit within 21 days after month-end. You should also keep in mind that missing these deadlines can result in penalties, which is why keeping accurate, up-to-date records is essential.
How to Calculate Weekly and Monthly Earnings?
The first step in managing admin is knowing how much you earn and how much you spend. It sounds simple, but when you are paid by the job, the ride, or the project, it is not always straightforward. Here is how you can do admin on weekly and monthly basis.
- Calculate Weekly Earnings:
In order to keep a track a record of your weekly earnings, you should add up your income for each day and then total it for the week. Keep a log of your daily jobs. Add up your income for each day, then total it for the week. In the following, a demonstrative table for an Uber driver will help you understand how to calculate weekly earnings.
| Day |
Earnings |
| Monday |
$180 |
| Tuesday |
$200 |
| Wednesday |
$150 |
| Thursday |
$220 |
| Friday |
$250 |
| Saturday |
$300 |
| Sunday |
$200 |
Weekly total = $1,500
- Calculate Monthly Earnings:
To calculate monthly earnings, multiply your weekly total by the number of weeks, or add up each week separately, as shown below:
| Week |
Earnings |
| Week 1 |
$1,500 |
| Week 2 |
$1,450 |
| Week 3 |
$1,600 |
| Week 4 |
$1,550 |
Monthly total = $6,100
How to Track Your Expenses?
As we know that earnings don’t tell the whole story. To know your real income, you need to track what you spend on work-related costs. Apart from that, you have to figure out what you common expenses are. In the majority of cases, common expenses include:
- Fuel
- Repairs and maintenance
- Phone bills and internet
- School fees (for parents only)
- Insurance
- Equipment or tools
- Bank fees and subscriptions
If you don’t record these, you will miss out on tax deductions. That is why, apps like Instant Receipts come in. Instead of stuffing receipts into the drawer, you can scan receipts on the spot. The app organises them for you, so when tax time or BAS lodgement arrives, everything is ready.
Making Admin Easier with Instant Receipts
The Instant Receipts app helps Aussies from all walks of life. Whether you are running a small business, or driving Uber to earn bread and butter, staying on top of admin with less stress is essential. For example, you fill up with fuel for $80. Instead of stuffing the receipt in the wallet or drawer, you scan it in seconds using application which is available on Google Playstore as well as IOS. The app records the date, amount, and category (fuel). By the end of the quarter, you have got hundreds of dollars in fuel expenses neatly tracked, ready to claim GST credits.
Here’s how it works:
- After you shop or pay for something, scan your receipt instantly.
- The app stores the receipt digitally and sorts it into categories.
- At BAS time, your expenses are already organised.
- Your accountant does not need a mountain of paper — just export the data.
How to Calculate GST in Australia?
To calculate GST in Australia, first determine if your business earns more than $75,000 a year. If yes, then you must register for GST. That means adding 10% to your prices and sending it to the ATO when you lodge your BAS. For example, if a tradie charges $500 for a job before GST, the GST-inclusive price becomes $550. On the other hand, if you need to remove GST from a total, divide the GST-inclusive price by 1.10. For instance, if an Uber trip costs $110 including GST, dividing by 1.10 shows the base price was $100, with the remaining $10 representing the GST portion.
Tips for Staying on Top of Admin
Want to simplify your BAS lodgement? Check out our guides on importing expenses and generating tax compliance reports.
- Separate accounts: Use one bank account for business and another for personal.
- Do it regularly: Spend 10 minutes a week updating records instead of hours at tax time.
- Use tech: Apps and software save time and reduce mistakes.
- Work with your accountant: They’ll love you for having clean, accurate records.
FAQs:
- How do Uber drivers and tradies calculate their weekly earnings?
Weekly earnings are calculated by adding up daily income. For example, if an Uber driver makes $200 per day for 7 days, their weekly total is $1,400.
- How much GST do I need to pay in Australia?
The GST rate is 10%. To add GST, multiply the base price by 1.10. To remove GST from a total, divide by 1.10. The difference is the GST amount.
- What is BAS lodgement and why is it important?
BAS (Business Activity Statement) is a report businesses submit to the ATO monthly or quarterly. It shows GST collected and paid. It is important because it ensures you meet tax obligations and claim GST credits.
- How can I make BAS lodgement less stressful?
Keeping receipts organised is key. Apps like Instant Receipts allow you to scan receipts instantly, categorise expenses, and export reports, making BAS preparation faster and easier.
- What is the easiest way to track expenses as a small business owner?
The easiest way is to separate business and personal accounts, update records weekly, and use tools like Instant Receipts or accounting software such as Xero or MYOB to automate expense tracking.
Final Thoughts
Admin doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Whether you are driving with Uber, working as a tradie, or running a small business, you can manage earnings, expenses, GST, and BAS with confidence. Start by calculating weekly and monthly income, keep track of expenses with tools like
Instant Receipts, and understand how GST works. By staying organised, you will save time, reduce stress, and maybe even enjoy the feeling of being on top of your money.
