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Tax return checklist

Tax returns are infamously time-consuming and laborious, use our tax return checklist to make your tax return easier.

Shirley Liu
Shirley Liu

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Which receipts, details, and statements will you need? Forgetting to include some aspects of your return could you cost you money, and might ultimately land you in trouble with the Australian Tax Office (ATO).

  • Individuals starting from $79*
  • Sole trader starting from $150*
  • Ride sharing tax returns start from $110*

FinTax Group Offer

Qualified to handle your tax and financial needs.

Help you complete your tax return if you have more than one job, or income from other sources such as investments.

Offers a wide range of services from tax advice to business setup and advisory.

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Choosing a tax agent

Data indicated here is updated regularly
Name Product Fee for unlimited income items (Wages) Deduction Item Fees Online tax returns
FinTax Group
FinTax Group
$79*
$0 for up to $1000 of deductions
$65 for an investment property
Australia wide
Lodge individual & company tax returns online or in-person. Fast online form with additional options to complete tax returns for investment properties, sole trader tax and share investments.
Go to site
More Info
Refund Express
Refund Express
$79*
$0 when you purchase the $49 income package
Australia wide
Option to pay with your tax refund for an extra fee of $10 for basic returns. Lodge individual & company tax returns. Fast online form & free live chat.
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More Info
Everest Tax & Business Advisors
Everest Tax & Business Advisors
$80*
Business tax: starting from $250
General deductions: $0
For motor vehicle expenses: $15
Australia wide
A boutique firm that provides personalised experiences for all customers. Ideal option for individuals and small businesses based in Perth.
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One Minute Tax
One Minute Tax
$99*
$0
Australia wide
Option to pay with your tax refund for an extra fee of $20. Lodge individual & company tax returns. Fast online form & free live chat. Special offer for business owners: Register your new company for only $499 (includes $488 worth of government fees and $100 cashback into your new business bank account). Click 'Go to site' to find out more. T&Cs apply.
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More Info
Taxgain
Taxgain
$99*
$0 for up to 2 deductions
$29 for additional deductions
Australia wide
Option to pay with your tax refund for an extra fee of $29. Online and in-person tax services for individuals, sole traders and companies.
Go to site
More Info
Hotman & Brown
Hotman & Brown
$99*
Business tax: starting from $179
$29 for up to 2 deductions
Additional $29 for extra deductions
N/A
Option to pay with your tax refund for an extra fee of $29. Basic tax returns over the phone Australia-wide. In-person individual and business tax returns in Melbourne.
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Bennetts Tax & BAS service
Bennetts Tax & BAS service
$155*
finder Exclusive: $5 discount
$0 for all work related deductions
Australia wide
finder Exclusive: $5 discount when you apply for a tax return with Bennetts Tax through finder. Click 'Go to site' and complete the contact form to find out more. Income item fee includes returns on interest, dividends, Superannuation and pension. A flexible option for individuals, sole traders and companies.
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More Info
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Compare up to 4 providers

Data indicated here is updated regularly
Name Product Fee for unlimited income items (Wages) Deduction Item Fees Online tax returns
One Minute Tax
One Minute Tax
$99*
$0
Australia wide
Option to pay with your tax refund for an extra fee of $20. Lodge individual & company tax returns. Fast online form & free live chat. Special offer for business owners: Register your new company for only $499 (includes $488 worth of government fees and $100 cashback into your new business bank account). Click 'Go to site' to find out more. T&Cs apply.
Go to site
More Info
Refund Express
Refund Express
$79*
$0 when you purchase the $49 income package
Australia wide
Option to pay with your tax refund for an extra fee of $10 for basic returns. Lodge individual & company tax returns. Fast online form & free live chat.
Go to site
More Info
FinTax Group
FinTax Group
$79*
$0 for up to $1000 of deductions
$65 for an investment property
Australia wide
Lodge individual & company tax returns online or in-person. Fast online form with additional options to complete tax returns for investment properties, sole trader tax and share investments.
Go to site
More Info
Taxgain
Taxgain
$99*
$0 for up to 2 deductions
$29 for additional deductions
Australia wide
Option to pay with your tax refund for an extra fee of $29. Online and in-person tax services for individuals, sole traders and companies.
Go to site
More Info
Everest Tax & Business Advisors
Everest Tax & Business Advisors
$80*
Business tax: starting from $250
General deductions: $0
For motor vehicle expenses: $15
Australia wide
A boutique firm that provides personalised experiences for all customers. Ideal option for individuals and small businesses based in Perth.
Go to site
More Info
Bennetts Tax & BAS service
Bennetts Tax & BAS service
$155*
finder Exclusive: $5 discount
$0 for all work related deductions
Australia wide
finder Exclusive: $5 discount when you apply for a tax return with Bennetts Tax through finder. Click 'Go to site' and complete the contact form to find out more. Income item fee includes returns on interest, dividends, Superannuation and pension. A flexible option for individuals, sole traders and companies.
Go to site
More Info
loading

Compare up to 4 providers

Data indicated here is updated regularly
Name Product Fee for unlimited income items (Wages) Deduction Item Fees On-site tax returns
FinTax Group
FinTax Group
$79*
$0 for up to $1000 of deductions
$65 for an investment property
Sydney
Lodge individual & company tax returns online or in-person. Fast online form with additional options to complete tax returns for investment properties, sole trader tax and share investments.
Go to site
More Info
Taxgain
Taxgain
$99*
$0 for up to 2 deductions
$29 for additional deductions
Sydney
Option to pay with your tax refund for an extra fee of $29. Online and in-person tax services for individuals, sole traders and companies.
Go to site
More Info
loading

Compare up to 4 providers

Data indicated here is updated regularly
Name Product Fee for unlimited income items (Wages) Deduction Item Fees On-site tax returns
Hotman & Brown
Hotman & Brown
$99*
Business tax: starting from $179
$29 for up to 2 deductions
Additional $29 for extra deductions
Melbourne
Option to pay with your tax refund for an extra fee of $29. Basic tax returns over the phone Australia-wide. In-person individual and business tax returns in Melbourne.
Go to site
More Info
One Minute Tax
One Minute Tax
$99*
$0
Melbourne
Option to pay with your tax refund for an extra fee of $20. Lodge individual & company tax returns. Fast online form & free live chat. Special offer for business owners: Register your new company for only $499 (includes $488 worth of government fees and $100 cashback into your new business bank account). Click 'Go to site' to find out more. T&Cs apply.
Go to site
More Info
loading

Compare up to 4 providers

Data indicated here is updated regularly
Name Product Fee for unlimited income items (Wages) Deduction Item Fees On-site tax returns
Everest Tax & Business Advisors
Everest Tax & Business Advisors
$80*
Business tax: starting from $250
General deductions: $0
For motor vehicle expenses: $15
Perth
A boutique firm that provides personalised experiences for all customers. Ideal option for individuals and small businesses based in Perth.
Go to site
More Info
loading

Compare up to 4 providers

Data indicated here is updated regularly
Name Product Fee for unlimited income items (Wages) Deduction Item Fees On-site tax returns
Bennetts Tax & BAS service
Bennetts Tax & BAS service
$155*
finder Exclusive: $5 discount
$0 for all work related deductions
Canberra
finder Exclusive: $5 discount when you apply for a tax return with Bennetts Tax through finder. Click 'Go to site' and complete the contact form to find out more. Income item fee includes returns on interest, dividends, Superannuation and pension. A flexible option for individuals, sole traders and companies.
Go to site
More Info
loading

Compare up to 4 providers

*This is the minimum fee charged for income item tax returns. The price listed on this table is subject to terms and conditions. To find out more or to receive an accurate quote for your tax return, please visit the agent's website to submit an enquiry.

*The products compared on this page are chosen from a range of offers available to us and are not representative of all the products available in the market. There is no perfect order or perfect ranking system for the products we list on our Site, so we provide you with the functionality to self-select, re-order and compare products. The initial display order is influenced by a range of factors including conversion rates, product costs and commercial arrangements, so please don't interpret the listing order as an endorsement or recommendation from us. We're happy to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions, but we'd like you to make your own decisions and compare and assess products based on your own preferences, circumstances and needs.

Tax return checklist

Here we’ve compiled a tax return checklist of some pre-return information you might need to get together:

Basics

  • Tax File Number (TFN)
  • Bank details: BSB, account number, account holder name, bank name
  • For medical expenses you will also need your medicare number
  • Details of children
  • Last year’s Income Tax Assessment

Earnings

  • Payment summaries (PAYG) from any places where you have received an income
  • Information on any lump-sum payments you may have received, potentially through termination payments, Centrelink. Personal injury payouts do not need to be reported if they occurred outside and unrelated to your workplace
  • Details on foreign earnings
  • Any interest received from banks or building societies
  • Statements of dividends received or invested
  • Statements on earnings from managed funds
  • Any other income gained, i.e. from properties or investments
  • If you have a spouse you will need details on their earnings and expenses

Deductions

  • Receipts for gifts and donations
  • Receipts for work-related expenses including transport (mileage), uniforms, technology necessary for your work
  • If self-employed, contributions to superannuation
  • Details about your income protection insurance
  • Costs for managing tax calculations, i.e. tax agents
  • Medical receipts, totalling >$2,120

Yes indeed, tax returns are tedious. But perhaps you have been squirrelling away your receipts all year, and can combine these with the docs mentioned in our tax return checklist above to make it a breezy, stress-easy affair.

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DISCLAIMER: Many of the comments in this article are general in nature and anyone intending to apply the information to practical circumstances should seek professional advice to independently verify their interpretation and the information applicability to their own particular circumstances.

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