Tax Guide for Self-Employed Canadian Taxi & PHV Drivers 2025

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Jurisdiction	Requirement
Federal	No federal taxi licence. GST/HST registration mandatory for all taxi/PHV operators regardless of revenue (ETA s. 240(1)).
Ontario	Municipal taxi licence (e.g., City of Toronto, Ottawa). PHV operators need municipal PHV operator licence + driver licence.
British Columbia	Municipal taxi licence or Passenger Transportation Licence (PTB) for regional operators.
Alberta	Municipal taxi licence (Calgary, Edmonton). No provincial PHV-specific framework — municipal rules apply.
Québec	Taxi driver permit from municipal taxi bureau (e.g., STM for Montreal). Bill 96 French requirements for signage/apps.
All provinces	Commercial auto insurance mandatory. Personal policy void if used for taxi/PHV work undisclosed.

Trade-specific deductible expenses

Municipal taxi licence / medallion — if indefinite life (most Canadian municipalities), CCA Class 14.1 (5% DB, straight-line). If term-limited (e.g., annual renewal), treat as current expense. Legal fees to acquire licence: deductible
Vehicle CCA — taxi vehicles follow standard Class 10 (30% DB) or Class 10.1 if cost > $36,000. Heavy use accelerates depreciation; keep detailed records
Accessible vehicle modifications — wheelchair lifts, ramps, restraints: may qualify for additional CCA or be fully deductible as adaptive equipment; consult provincial accessible transit programs for grants
Shift / lease operators — if you lease a taxi from a fleet owner: the shift fee/lease payment is fully deductible. Revenue = all fares collected. You still claim fuel, maintenance, and tip income
Tips — ALL tips are taxable income. Cash tips must be self-reported. Record daily tip estimates; CRA uses industry benchmarks if records are inadequate
Dispatch equipment & mobile payment terminals — Class 8 (20% DB) if > $500; Class 12 if ≤ $500. Monthly terminal rental fees: current expense
Vehicle expenses — fuel, maintenance, repairs, insurance (commercial), cleaning: all deductible. Logbook required if also using vehicle personally
Radio / app dispatch fees — monthly fleet dispatch or app platform fees: current expense
CPD / first aid training — required by some municipalities: deductible

Mandatory GST/HST Registration — No $30,000 Exemption

Under ETA s. 240(1), anyone who operates a taxi or limousine service must register for GST/HST regardless of revenue. This applies from day one — there is no small-supplier threshold. You must collect and remit GST/HST on all fares. Failure to register can result in penalties and CRA assessing tax plus interest on all unreported rides.

Vehicle expenses

Taxi/PHV vehicles are typically driven 40,000–80,000 km/year for business. Keep a logbook if you also use the vehicle personally. Commercial insurance is mandatory — a personal policy will not cover taxi use and will be voided if undisclosed. Some insurers offer specific taxi/PHV policies that include passenger liability; premiums are fully deductible.

GST/HST

Mandatory registration from day one. All taxi and PHV fares are taxable. Most provinces charge GST/HST on the full fare. If you operate through a dispatch service or app, they may collect and remit on your behalf — confirm this in your agreement. You still need your own GST/HST number. Input Tax Credits can be claimed on fuel, vehicle repairs, insurance, and licence fees. File returns monthly, quarterly, or annually depending on revenue level assigned by CRA.

WSIB / WCB coverage

Taxi/PHV work is not typically construction-classified, but some provinces classify it under commercial transport. In Ontario, WSIB coverage is not mandatory for taxi drivers but is available optionally. In BC and Québec, check with WorkSafeBC/CNESST for specific classification. Fleet owners may carry coverage that extends to drivers — verify before purchasing duplicate coverage.

CRA audit focus for this trade

What gets flagged

Unreported tips — CRA uses credit-card tip data and industry benchmarks; cash tips that appear too low trigger audits
GST/HST not collected or remitted (mandatory registration often missed by new drivers)
Personal vehicle expenses claimed without logbook
Shift fees deducted but fare revenue underreported (fleet data sharing with CRA)
Commercial insurance not held (personal policy voiding risk)
Licence CCA claimed as Class 8 instead of Class 14.1
Accessible vehicle modifications claimed without supporting receipts

Worked example

Toronto taxi driver (shift operator) — $72,000 gross

Gross fares (including tips est. $8k)     $72,000
Shift fees (lease from fleet owner)       ($24,000)
Fuel                                      ($9,500)
Vehicle maintenance & repairs             ($3,200)
Commercial insurance                      ($4,800)
Vehicle CCA (Class 10)                    ($3,600)
Dispatch / radio fees                     ($1,200)
Payment terminal rental                   ($480)
Cleaning & supplies                       ($600)
Municipal licence (current expense)         ($850)
                                           ────────
Net self-employment income                ≈ $23,770

CPP (self-employed)                        ≈ $5,660
Federal + Ontario tax                     ≈ $2,100
                                           ────────
Take-home                                  ≈ $16,010
HST collected on $72k @ 13%               $9,360   (mandatory)