How to Lodge a Tax Return in Australia (Step-by-Step)

If you worked in Australia between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026, you probably need to lodge a tax return in Australia, and the deadline is coming up fast. For most people who do it themselves, the due date is 31 October. The good news is that lodging is easier than it sounds. Most of your information is already filled in for you, and many people finish in under an hour.

This guide walks you through how to lodge a tax return in Australia step by step, using myTax, a registered tax agent or the free Tax Help program. It is written for newcomers, including working holiday makers, international students and new permanent residents, so we keep things simple and practical.

Quick Summary

Question	Answer
Which income year?	2025–26 (1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026)
Deadline if you lodge yourself	31 October
Deadline with a tax agent	Often later, but you must contact the agent before 31 October
Easiest way to lodge yourself	myTax, through myGov linked to the ATO
When information is pre-filled	Mostly by late July
How long processing takes online	Most myTax returns are processed in about 12 business days
Paper returns	Most refunds are issued within 50 business days
Free help	ATO Tax Help program for income around $70,000 or less with simple tax affairs

Source: Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

What Is a Tax Return and Why Do You Need One?

In Australia, your employer takes tax out of every pay. This is called PAYG withholding. The amount taken out is only an estimate, though. Your tax return is how you tell the ATO what you actually earned and what you can claim, so they can work out your real tax for the year.

After you lodge, one of three things happens:

You get a refund because too much tax was taken out.
You owe money because not enough tax was taken out (this often happens with two jobs or ABN work).
It roughly balances out and you get a small refund or nothing.

The Australian income year runs from 1 July to 30 June. So the return you are lodging now covers 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026.

Before you can work and lodge, you need a Tax File Number. If you don’t have one yet, read our guide on how to get a Tax File Number (TFN) in Australia.

Do You Need to Lodge a Tax Return in Australia?

Not everyone has to lodge, but most workers do. Based on the ATO’s 2026 instructions, you generally need to lodge if any of these apply to you:

You were an Australian resident for tax purposes and had tax taken out of your pay.
You were a resident and your taxable income was more than $18,200 (the tax-free threshold).
You were a foreign resident and earned Australian income (other than income where final withholding tax already applied).
You had an ABN and were running a business, even a small side job like food delivery.
You were on a Working Holiday visa (417 or 462) and your Australian taxable income was $45,001 or more.

If you decide you don’t need to lodge, the ATO may still want to hear from you. In that case, you can lodge a non-lodgment advice through myGov instead.

A note for working holiday makers

The ATO says working holiday makers do not need to lodge a tax return (or a non-lodgment advice) if both of these are true:

All your income was salary or wages earned while you were a working holiday maker.
Your total taxable income for the year was less than $45,001.

However, you will need to lodge if you want to claim any deductions. Also, if you leave Australia permanently before 30 June, you can lodge your return early instead of waiting until July. Read more about your visa in our Working Holiday Visa Australia guide.

When to Lodge Your Tax Return

The 31 October deadline

If you lodge your own return, it is due by 31 October. For the 2025–26 year, that means 31 October 2026.

If you use a registered tax agent, you may have more time. Many agents have a special lodgment program that goes past 31 October. But there’s a catch: if you are a new client, you need to contact the agent before 31 October to be included.

Don’t rush in early July

It’s tempting to lodge on 1 July to get your refund quickly. The ATO actually warns against this. Employers, banks, health funds and government agencies need time to send your information to the ATO. Most of it is pre-filled into myTax by late July.

If you lodge too early, you might miss income, which can mean your return gets adjusted later or you end up with a bill. A good rule is to check that your income statement shows as “Tax ready” in myGov before you lodge.

What You Need Before You Start

Get these things ready first. It makes the whole process much faster.

A myGov account linked to the ATO. This is how you access myTax. You can also use the ATO app.
Your Tax File Number (TFN).
Your bank account details (BSB and account number) so your refund can be paid into an Australian account. See our guide on how to open a bank account in Australia if you need one.
Your income statements. Most employers report through Single Touch Payroll, so these appear in myGov automatically.
Records of other income, such as bank interest, ABN income, or income from overseas.
Receipts and records for deductions, such as work tools, uniforms or work travel.
Private health insurance details, if you have a policy.

How to Lodge a Tax Return Online with myTax (Step by Step)

myTax is the ATO’s free online tool. It works on a computer, phone or tablet, and you don’t need to download any software. For most people with simple tax affairs, this is the easiest option.

Step 1: Create a myGov account and link the ATO

Go to my.gov.au and create an account if you don’t have one. Then link the ATO as a service. To link, you will need to verify your identity, usually with your TFN and details from a past document, such as a payslip, bank statement or previous notice of assessment.

Step 2: Sign in and open your tax return

Sign in to myGov and select ATO from your linked services. Then choose Manage tax returns from the quick links and start your return for 2026.

Step 3: Check your personal details

Make sure your name, address, phone number and bank account are correct. A wrong bank account is one of the most common reasons refunds are delayed.

Step 4: Review the pre-filled income

myTax will show income it already knows about, like wages from your employers, bank interest and government payments. Check every item carefully:

Is every job you had during the year listed?
Do the amounts match your income statements?
Is anything missing, such as cash jobs, ABN income or foreign income?

You are responsible for what is in your return, even if the ATO pre-filled it. Add anything that is missing.

Step 5: Add your deductions

This is where you claim work-related expenses you paid for yourself. We explain what you can claim in the next section. Only claim what you can back up with records.

Step 6: Answer the remaining questions

myTax will ask about things like private health insurance, Medicare levy, spouse details and any HELP student loan. Answer honestly. If a question doesn’t apply to you, you can skip it.

Step 7: Review your estimate and lodge

Before you submit, myTax shows an estimate of your refund or the amount you owe. Read through the summary, then lodge. You will get a lodgment receipt by email confirming the ATO has received your return.

What Deductions Can You Claim?

A deduction reduces your taxable income, which can increase your refund. The ATO has three simple rules for work-related expenses:

You paid for it yourself and were not paid back by your employer.
It is directly related to earning your income.
You have a record to prove it, usually a receipt.

Common work-related deductions include:

Tools and equipment you need for your job, such as a laptop used for work, or tools for a tradie.
Work clothing, such as protective gear or a compulsory uniform with your employer’s logo. Normal everyday clothes are not deductible, even if you only wear them to work.
Work travel, such as driving between job sites. Your normal trip from home to work is usually not deductible.
Working from home costs, if you worked from home for your job. You need records of the hours you worked from home and your running costs, such as electricity and internet bills.
Union fees and professional memberships.
Courses linked to your current job.
The cost of managing your tax affairs, such as last year’s tax agent fee.

Be careful here. Incorrect work-related claims are a major ATO focus every tax time, so don’t copy last year’s claims or a friend’s.

Australian Tax Rates for 2025–26

Your tax depends on your residency status for tax purposes. This is different from your visa. Many international students are treated as residents for tax purposes, while most working holiday makers are taxed at special working holiday maker rates. If you’re unsure, the ATO has a residency tool on its website.

Resident tax rates (2025–26)

Taxable income	Tax on this income
$0 – $18,200	Nil
$18,201 – $45,000	16c for each $1 over $18,200
$45,001 – $135,000	$4,288 plus 30c for each $1 over $45,000
$135,001 – $190,000	$31,288 plus 37c for each $1 over $135,000
$190,001 and over	$51,638 plus 45c for each $1 over $190,000

These rates do not include the Medicare levy of 2%.

Working holiday maker tax rates (2025–26)

Taxable income	Tax on this income
$0 – $45,000	15c for each $1
$45,001 – $135,000	$6,750 plus 30c for each $1 over $45,000
$135,001 – $190,000	$33,750 plus 37c for each $1 over $135,000
$190,001 and over	$54,100 plus 45c for each $1 over $190,000

Want to understand what a typical pay looks like before tax? See our guides to the minimum wage in Australia and the average salary in Australia.

Other Ways to Lodge

Using a registered tax agent

A tax agent prepares and lodges your return for you. This can be worth it if you have more complicated affairs, like ABN income, a rental property, shares, or income from overseas. A good agent can also help you avoid mistakes.

Only registered tax agents can charge a fee to prepare your return. Before you pay anyone, check their name on the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) public register. And remember, the agent’s fee is a deduction you can claim on next year’s return.

The free ATO Tax Help program

If your income is around $70,000 or less and your tax affairs are simple, you may be able to get free help from an ATO-trained volunteer. Tax Help runs from July to October each year. It is not available if, for example, you ran a business, worked as a contractor, owned a rental property or had foreign income (other than a foreign pension). You can find out more and book through the ATO website or by phoning 13 28 61.

Paper returns

You can still lodge on paper by mail, but it is much slower. The ATO says most paper refunds are issued within 50 business days, compared with about two weeks for most online returns.

After You Lodge: Refunds and Bills

Once you lodge through myTax, most returns are processed in about 12 business days, and most refunds arrive within two weeks. Some returns take longer, for example if the ATO needs to check something.

When your return is processed, you’ll receive a notice of assessment in your myGov inbox. This shows your final result. If you owe money, the notice tells you how much and when to pay. If you made a mistake, you can amend your return through myTax later.

Keep your receipts and records. The ATO generally expects you to keep them for five years from the date you lodge, in case it asks you to prove a claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the tax return deadline in Australia?

If you lodge yourself, the due date is 31 October. For the 2025–26 income year, that is 31 October 2026. If you use a registered tax agent, you may have longer, but you need to contact them before 31 October.

How long does a tax refund take in Australia?

The ATO says most myTax returns are processed in about 12 business days, and most refunds are issued within two weeks. Paper returns can take up to around 50 business days.

Do working holiday makers need to lodge a tax return?

Not always. If all your income was salary or wages as a working holiday maker and your taxable income was less than $45,001, you don’t need to lodge. You will need to lodge if you want to claim deductions or if you earned $45,001 or more.

Can I lodge my tax return without myGov?

You can use a registered tax agent, use the Tax Help program, or lodge a paper return by mail. To lodge online yourself through myTax, you need a myGov account linked to the ATO or the ATO app.

What happens if I lodge my tax return late?

If you can’t lodge on time, contact the ATO or a registered tax agent as soon as possible. Late lodgment can lead to penalties, and if you owe tax, interest can be added. Lodging even a little late is better than not lodging at all.

Final Thoughts

Lodging a tax return in Australia is mostly about being organised. Link myGov to the ATO, wait until your income is “Tax ready”, check every pre-filled amount, and only claim deductions you can prove. If your situation is simple, myTax or the free Tax Help program will usually do the job. If you have ABN income, investments or overseas income, a registered tax agent is often worth the fee.

The founder of Life in Australia Hub has lived in Australia since March 2013, and tax time comes around every year for all of us. Set a reminder for October, keep your receipts in one place, and next year’s return will be even easier.

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