How much does a courier take home? A worked example: one week with Uber Eats and Glovo

The starting figures

Total from the apps: 1,600 zł.

• Uber Eats: 1,200 zł — this app shows amounts including VAT. Of that, 40 zł is tips.
• Glovo: 400 zł of earnings.
• Cash from customers: 150 zł — already included in this total.
• The courier is 26+, has no other job and does not pay the voluntary sickness contribution.

Step 1. VAT on Uber Eats: 216.91 zł

Uber Eats is the only app that shows amounts with VAT. Tips carry no VAT, so we start from 1,160 zł: 1,160 × 23/123 = 216.91 zł. This is not your tax — the partner pays it to the state. Glovo, Wolt, Bolt Food and Pyszne already show amounts without VAT.

Step 2. Glovo fee: 4.92 zł

Glovo charges 4.92 zł a week for using the app. It shows the fee under your earnings and sends the money without it. After both steps, 1,378.17 zł is left — contributions are calculated on this amount.

Step 3. ZUS: 155.18 zł

• Pension 9.76%: 134.51 zł.
• Disability 1.5%: 20.67 zł.
• Sickness 2.45% is voluntary — it is not included here. With it you would take home 27.49 zł less, but sick leave (L4) would be paid.

Step 4. Health contribution: 110.07 zł

The health contribution is 9% of the amount after ZUS: (1,378.17 − 155.18) × 9% = 110.07 zł.

Step 5. PIT: 117.41 zł

From the amount after ZUS, 20% tax-deductible costs are subtracted and 12% is charged on the rest: 1,222.99 − 244.60 = 978.39 zł; 978.39 × 12% = 117.41 zł.

The partner does not apply PIT-2, so if your yearly income is low you will get part of this back in your PIT-37 return thanks to the tax-free amount.

Result: 995.51 zł take-home, 845.51 zł by transfer

Out of 1,600 zł from the apps, 995.51 zł is left. You already have 150 zł in cash, so the partner transfers 845.51 zł to your account.

If you use the accelerated payout, subtract 29.90 zł for each early payout. A regular payout is free.

Take-home pay with a different status

The same 1,600 zł from the apps and the same cash:

• Student under 26: 1,378.17 zł — no ZUS and no tax.
• Under 26, not a student: 1,112.92 zł — contributions apply, PIT does not thanks to the youth relief.
• 26+ with a main job paying at least 4,806 zł gross: 1,121.83 zł — only the health contribution and PIT.
• 26+ with no other job: 995.51 zł.
• 26+ with the voluntary sickness contribution: 968.02 zł.

Where money most often “disappears”

Work out your own week in the calculator and enter your transfer amount — you will see at once whether everything adds up. This is an example for umowa zlecenie under standard rules, not tax advice.

• VAT on Uber Eats — when Uber makes up a big share, this is the largest single item.
• Cash — it is part of the app total but does not come by transfer.
• Partner fees — with our partner, Glovo, Uber Eats and Pyszne carry no commission, while the commission for Wolt or Bolt Food is 29.90 zł a week each (49.90 zł for both apps together).

Apps

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