Ride-hailing companies should make taxes easier for their drivers

Kudos to the attorney general for reaching a compromise with Uber and Lyft (“State settles driver suit with Uber, Lyft,” Page A1, June 28).

Overall, it’s a good deal for the workers in that it addresses a minimum wage and some significant benefits. What I want to highlight, however, is the missed opportunity to address payroll taxes. Many drivers don’t make estimated quarterly tax payments part of their regular practice. They wake up to a hefty tax bills during tax filing season, in addition to the prospect of penalties for the failure to pay the estimated taxes throughout the year. The app companies are in a much better position to simply withhold payroll tax but will not do it unless ordered. It seems to me that having the companies withhold payroll tax is the next necessary step when it comes to protecting the workers from avoidable debt and the Commonwealth from uncollected revenue.