What Independent Couriers Can Claim This Tax Season (Real Talk Edition)

Tax season hits different when you’re an independent courier. You’re out there grinding through Winnipeg winters, paying for your own gas, maintaining your own vehicle, juggling apps, dispatchers, and clients — and then CRA shows up like, “So… did you track your mileage?”

This guide breaks down what you can actually claim, what couriers usually forget, and how to keep more of your hard‑earned money where it belongs: with you and your family.

🔑 1. Vehicle Expenses (Your Biggest Claim)

Your vehicle is your business. CRA knows that, which is why this category is usually the largest deduction for couriers.

You can claim a portion of:

• Fuel

• Oil changes

• Repairs & maintenance

• Tires (especially winter tires — Winnipeg says hi)

• Car washes

• Insurance

• Registration

• Lease payments or depreciation (CCA)

• Parking fees

• Tolls

Pro tip:

If you use your vehicle mostly for deliveries, the actual expense method usually gives you a bigger deduction than the per‑kilometre rate.

🏠 2. Home Office (If You Dispatch From Home)

Even if your “office” is the corner of your dining table where you print labels and check Digital Waybill, you may qualify.

You can claim a portion of:

• Rent or mortgage interest

• Utilities

• Internet

• Property taxes

• Home insurance

It doesn’t have to be fancy — it just has to be real.

📱 3. Phone & Tech Expenses

Couriers live on their phones. CRA gets that.

You can claim:

• A portion of your phone bill

• Data plan

• Work apps

• GPS subscriptions

• Laptop/tablet used for dispatching or tracking

If you bought a new phone because your old one died mid‑route (we’ve all been there), that’s a business expense too.

📦 4. Work Supplies You Probably Forgot About

These add up fast:

• Office Supplies

• Printer

• Printer ink

• Packaging materials

• Safety gear (gloves, reflective vests, winter gear used for work)

• Hand truck, dolly, straps

• Vehicle organizers

• Snow brush, scraper, emergency kit

If you bought it to make deliveries safer or easier, it likely counts.

🧾 5. Business & Administrative Costs

This is where many couriers leave money on the table.

You can claim:

• Accounting fees

• Bank fees for business accounts

• Software (Digital Waybill, QuickBooks, etc.)

• Advertising

• Website costs

• Business cards

• Professional services

If you’re building your own courier brand, every dollar you invest is part of your business.

🍔 6. Meals (But Only Sometimes)

CRA is strict here.

You can claim meals only when:

• You’re travelling for work outside your normal delivery area

• You’re meeting a client

Your daily Tim’s run doesn’t count — unless you’re meeting a client and they’re late, which is basically a business meeting.

🚗 7. Mileage Tracking (The Part Everyone Hates)

You need:

• Odometer reading on January 1

• Odometer reading on December 31

• A log of business kilometres

Apps make this easier, but even a notebook works. CRA just wants consistency.

💬 Real Talk: Why This Matters

Independent couriers work hard. You’re out there in -40, in traffic, in construction zones, in neighbourhoods with no parking, carrying packages up icy steps. You deserve every deduction you’re entitled to.

And the truth is:

Most couriers don’t claim enough because no one ever explained it in plain language.

That’s why this post exists.

CRA Reference (Official Source)

For full details on what self‑employed individuals — including couriers — can claim, visit:

Canada Revenue Agency: Business expenses for self‑employed individuals

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/sole-proprietorships-partnerships/business-expenses.html