Meesho’s Valmo Helps Delivery Partners Claim ₹2 Crore in Tax Refunds as 10,000 Start ITR Filing

Meesho’s logistics arm, Valmo, is pushing tax compliance into India’s gig economy, helping nearly 10,000 delivery partners file ITRs since July, with refunds worth around ₹2 crore claimed so far.

For thousands of delivery partners, filing an Income Tax Return (ITR) can seem like another complicated financial task. Valmo, Meesho’s logistics arm, is now trying to change that by making tax filing more accessible to its delivery network.

Since launching its ITR filing initiative in July, around 10,000 Valmo delivery partners have initiated their tax returns, according to the company. Collectively, they have claimed approximately ₹2 crore in tax refunds so far.

The striking part of the initiative is the number of first-time filers. Valmo said nearly 70% of the partners who filed an ITR for the first time had never filed an income tax return before.

Why Delivery Partners Are Filing ITRs

Delivery partners, including bike riders, may have tax deducted at source (TDS) from their payouts during the financial year. The final amount of tax payable depends on an individual’s applicable tax position.

When the tax already deducted is higher than the person’s final tax liability, filing an ITR can allow the eligible taxpayer to claim a refund.

Beyond refunds, filing a tax return can also create a documented record of income. This formal financial history can be useful when individuals seek access to financial services.

For gig workers and independent delivery partners, building this kind of documented financial trail can be particularly important as they participate more deeply in the formal economy.

Valmo Takes ITR Filing to WhatsApp

Valmo has tried to remove some barriers to tax filing by taking the process directly to its delivery partners.

The company used WhatsApp and its internal Training Management System to communicate information about the initiative. The communication was made available in seven languages: English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi and Bengali.

Partners could use these communications to access the ClearTax platform and begin their ITR filing process, with support available throughout.

The multilingual approach matters for a delivery network spread across regions, especially when many partners may be approaching income-tax filing for the first time.

Nearly 7 in 10 Are First-Time Tax Filers

Valmo said the high proportion of first-time filers highlights the potential for simplified tax-filing initiatives to expand participation in India’s formal financial system.

Dhiresh Bansal, Chief Financial Officer at Meesho, said the company wants to make ITR filing easier for its partners while helping eligible individuals claim refunds and establish formal financial records.

Bansal also pointed to the number of first-time filers as an indication of how such initiatives could contribute to greater financial inclusion.

A Bigger Push Into the Formal Financial Economy

The tax initiative forms part of Valmo’s broader effort to support individuals and small businesses operating through its logistics network.

Rather than focusing only on earning opportunities, the company says it wants to help delivery partners navigate formal financial processes as the network expands.

For partners who have taxes deducted from their payouts, the ITR process can therefore have two potential benefits: recovering eligible excess tax and creating an official income trail.

With around 10,000 partners already initiating filings and roughly ₹2 crore in refunds claimed, Valmo’s program highlights a growing intersection between India’s gig economy, tax compliance and financial inclusion.

As India’s delivery workforce continues to expand, making traditionally complicated financial processes easier to access could become an increasingly important part of how gig workers manage their earnings and participate in the formal economy.