Taxing times: 1 in 3 are desperate for a cash injection
Millions of cash poor Aussies are desperate for their tax refund, according to new research by Finder.
A Finder survey of 1,015 respondents revealed 47% – equivalent to over 10 million people – are expecting a tax refund this year.
Of those expecting a refund, 7% – equivalent to more than 700,000 people – admit the extra cash is critical to their financial wellbeing.
Almost 1 in 4 (24%) said a tax refund is very important to their financial health, while 41% say it's somewhat important to their finances.
The average Australian is anticipating a refund of $1,519 – a whopping $15.3 billion nationwide.
Graham Cooke, head of consumer research at Finder, said Aussies are eagerly awaiting their tax refunds, set to arrive from July 1.
"Many households living month-to-month will be particularly keen to access these funds.
"For those struggling with the rising cost of living, a cash boost will offer some necessary financial reprieve."
Women are feeling the pinch the most with 39% admitting their tax refund is critical or very important, compared to 24% of men.
Cooke encouraged taxpayers to use their refunds wisely.
"Consider using the money to pay down debt, boost your savings, or contribute to superannuation for long-term benefits.
"If you don't have 3-6 months of essential expenses saved, using your refund to build or top up this fund can provide a significant sense of security for the year to come."
Cooke reminded taxpayers to be wary of scammers.
"Tax time attracts opportunistic scammers – be vigilant about suspicious emails, texts, or calls claiming to be from the ATO or other financial institutions. Never click on any links received by email or text.
"Always verify the legitimacy of any communication before sharing personal or financial information."
Almost 1 in 5 (18%) are expecting a tax bill instead of a refund this year – putting extra pressure on some already squeezed budgets.
Do you expect a tax refund or a tax bill at the end of this financial year?
| Tax bill (money to pay ATO) | 18% |
| Tax return (money back) | 47.00% |
| I don't pay any income tax | 35% |
| Source: Finder survey of 1,015 respondents, May 2025 |  |
How important is this year's tax refund to your financial health?
| Not important | 28% |
| Somewhat important | 41% |
| Very important | 24% |
| Critical | 7% |
| Source: Finder survey of 201 respondents expecting a tax refund, May 2024 | |
Methodology
- Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker is a monthly recurring nationally representative survey of more than 60,000 respondents.
- Figures in this release are based on 1,015 respondents from May 2025.
- The Consumer Sentiment Tracker is owned by Finder and operated by Qualtrics.
- The survey has been running monthly since May 2019.
Ask a question