How to Lodge Your Tax Return in Australia 2025-26 (Step-by-Step)

If you lodge your own tax return (not through a registered tax agent), the deadline is 31 October following the end of the financial year. For the 2025-26 financial year (ending 30 June 2026), your return is due by 31 October 2026.

If you use a registered tax agent, you generally get an extension until the following March or May, depending on your circumstances and the agent's lodgement program. However, you must be registered with your tax agent before 31 October to qualify for the extension. If you lodge late without a reasonable excuse, the ATO may charge a failure-to-lodge penalty of $313 per 28-day period, up to a maximum of $1,565.

Even if you can't pay a tax debt, you should still lodge on time to avoid the penalty — the ATO offers payment plans for outstanding tax debts.

The short version: Before lodging your tax return, gather the following: your myGov account linked to the ATO (set this up well before July if you haven't already), your income statements from all employers (these are pre-filled in myTax from mid-August), bank interest statements showing interest earned, dividend statements from any shares you own, private health insurance statement (if applicable), records of any work-related expenses you plan to claim as deductions, details of any government payments received (Centrelink, JobSeeker, etc.), and your super fund details. The ATO pre-fills much of your return using data from employers, banks, and other third parties, but this information may not be available until late August or September.

Lodging too early risks missing pre-fill data, which can lead to errors or amended returns.

Step 1: Log into myGov and select the ATO linked service. Step 2: Select 'Lodge tax return' from the tax menu.

Step 3: Review your personal details and update if necessary. Step 4: Check the pre-filled income information — this includes salary from employers, bank interest, dividends, and government payments. Verify each item and add any income that's missing.

Step 5: Enter your deductions — work-related expenses, self-education, working from home, car expenses, and any other deductions you're claiming. Step 6: Review any tax offsets you may be entitled to, such as the private health insurance rebate. Step 7: Check for any Medicare levy or surcharge adjustments.

Real talk — Step 8: Review the summary showing your estimated refund or tax payable. Step 9: Submit your return electronically.

Most refunds are processed within two weeks of lodgement, though complex returns may take longer.

Many Australians miss legitimate deductions that could increase their refund. Work-related deductions include union fees, professional association memberships, tools and equipment, protective clothing and uniforms, work-related travel (not commuting), phone and internet used for work, and working from home expenses.

The ATO's revised fixed rate method for working from home allows you to claim 67 cents per hour for all running expenses, provided you keep a record of hours worked. Self-education expenses related to your current employment are deductible, including course fees, textbooks, and travel to attend classes. Donations of $2 or more to registered charities (DGR status) are deductible.

Income protection insurance premiums are also deductible. If you've an investment property, ensure all rental expenses are claimed on the rental property schedule.

One thing people miss: A registered tax agent is worth considering if your tax affairs are complex — for example, if you've rental properties, capital gains from selling assets, a side business or ABN income, foreign income, or complex deduction claims. Tax agents typically charge $100 to $300 for a standard individual return and $300 to $600 for more complex situations.

The fee itself is tax-deductible in the following year. Tax agents have professional indemnity insurance and are bound by the Tax Practitioners Board code of conduct, providing a level of protection if errors occur. They also have access to the ATO's agent portal, which provides more detailed pre-fill data than myTax.

For straightforward PAYG employees with no investments, myTax is generally enough and free. The ATO also offers a free Tax Help program for low-income earners (under approximately $60,000) staffed by trained volunteers during tax time. That's the key takeaway.

The ATO uses sophisticated data matching to identify returns that warrant further scrutiny. Common audit triggers include large or unusual deduction claims relative to your occupation and income level, rental property claims that don't match property data, significant discrepancies between your lifestyle and declared income, failure to declare income from side jobs or the sharing economy (Uber, Airbnb, etc.), and repeated claims for the same deductions without supporting records.

To stay on the right side of the ATO, only claim deductions you're genuinely entitled to, keep receipts and records for at least five years, and ensure all income is declared. If you make an honest mistake, you can request an amendment through myTax within two years of the original assessment. The ATO is generally reasonable with honest errors but takes a dim view of deliberate under-reporting.