Uber pays its drivers ‘wages’ and is liable for $81m payroll tax bill, Australia’s high court rules

Rideshare company unsuccessfully argued it didn’t employ workers and claimed money paid was not wages under NSW law

The rideshare behemoth Uber has suffered a bruising loss in Australia’s high court that will cost it more than $80m in unpaid taxes.

The court on Wednesday dismissed Uber’s claim it was not liable to pay payroll tax in New South Wales after it argued that it does not employ drivers and claimed that money paid to its drivers were not wages under state law.

In a six-to-one decision, the high court found that Uber is liable to pay $81m for the tax years from 2015 to 2020.