Eternal’s platforms, Zomato and Blinkit, have collectively facilitated income tax return (ITR) filing for more than one lakh delivery partners this year across 905 cities, helping expand financial inclusion among gig workers.
With the filing deadline for gig workers still a month away on August 31, the initiative has already helped delivery partners secure income tax refunds worth ₹18 crore.
Formal Financial Inclusion
About 73% of the delivery partners who filed returns were first-time ITR filers, with no record of filing in previous years through Zomato or Blinkit.
The company said the trend reflects a growing number of gig workers entering the formal financial system, supported by the platforms’ digital filing initiative.
An ITR serves as recognised proof of financial standing and can help delivery partners access personal loans, FD-backed credit cards, rental agreements and other financial services that require documented income history.
Digital Filing Support
“Delivery partners are at the centre of what we do, and we see it as our responsibility to support them well beyond their work on our platforms. Whether it is helping them build a formal financial record through ITR filing, or the welfare benefits and savings tools we offer through the app, our effort is to give delivery partners the security and financial standing they deserve,” said Zomato CEO Aditya Mangla.
To make the service widely accessible, Zomato and Blinkit have offered ITR filing through a third-party platform at a subsidised cost. The filing process is fully digital and self-service.
Wider Welfare Initiatives
The company said ITR filing forms part of a broader set of financial wellbeing initiatives for delivery partners.
These include OPD cover, medical and accidental insurance, maternity insurance, paid period rest days for women delivery partners, fixed and recurring deposit options, and pension accounts under the gig-worker variant of the National Pension Scheme.
Founded in 2008, Eternal operates businesses across food delivery (Zomato), quick commerce (Blinkit), going-out offerings (District) and B2B supplies (Hyperpure).