How can I reduce the amount of tax I pay?

You can reduce your taxable income, and therefore reduce the amount of tax you need to pay, by claiming deductions.

Do I need to declare interest on my savings account if it’s a small amount?

Yes, you’ll need to declare any interest earned in a savings account.

When do I need to lodge my tax return?

If you're doing your tax return yourself online, you need to lodge your tax returns by 31 October. Keep in mind that the financial year ends on the 30 June.

Is prize money taxable?

Winnings from lotteries, game shows and raffles aren’t taxable, but if you regularly receive winnings from game shows it might be.

Is child support taxable?

You usually don’t have to declare child support payments, as someone has already paid tax on this.

Are cash birthday presents taxable?

These are not taxable, although if the amount received was a large amount or was earned in a business-style transaction they might be.

Are overseas pensions taxable?

If you’re an Australian resident for tax purposes, you’ll be taxed on your foreign pensions, annuities, capital gains from overseas properties and more. Australia has a system to avoid double taxation in the event that you get taxed in the country where your income comes from. If you’re not an Australian resident, you usually won’t need to declare earnings from overseas sources.

Tax calculator 2025-26: How much tax do I have to pay?

Estimate your 2025-26 tax liability and potential return using gross income only.
Income is taxed incrementally meaning only the portion above a threshold incurs the higher rate.
Claim eligible deductions to reduce your taxable income and maximise your potential tax return.

How to use the income tax calculator

Add up your total annual income for the year (your gross annual income will be on your income statement or latest payslip for the financial year).
Don't forget about any additional money you've made from freelance, contract work or a side hustle.
Enter this figure into the income tax calculator below to see how much tax you will need to pay for the 2025-26 financial year.
This will give you an estimate of how much tax you should have paid for the year.

Outcomes provided are based only on the information you give, and you should only use it as general advice. It doesn't take into account your personal or financial situation, any Medicare levy, HECS-HELP debt or any capital gains tax you need to pay, and is just for your standard, annual income. The calculator doesn't take into account any deductions you're eligible to claim. If you have tax deductions to claim, a tax agent can help you claim these correctly to help increase the amount of tax you get back (and you can claim the tax agent fee as a deduction, too).

Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this calculator, the results should only be used as an indication. They are neither a recommendation nor an eligibility test for any product and should not be construed as financial advice, investment advice or any other sort of advice.

Calculating your tax return: How much tax will I get back?

The calculator will give you an estimate of how much tax you'll need to pay based on your annual income. If you've paid more tax than you need to, you should get the difference back as a tax return. Alternatively, if you have not paid the correct amount of tax you will need to make up the difference and pay this to the ATO.

This calculator is just an estimate. It doesn't take into account the Medicare levy or any HECS-HELP debt you might have, which will also come out of your return.

Expert insight

"Australian income tax is ever-changing, complex and not always black and white. A tax misconception we often come across is [that] earning more income will result in being worse off from a tax perspective. That is simply not the case; the Australian tax system is based on incremental tax thresholds, which means when your income moves into another tax threshold, only the income greater than the threshold is taxed at the higher rate."

Sean Urquhart

Partner, Taxation Consulting, Nexia Australia

How much tax have you paid?

If you earn a salary from your job (meaning you're not a business owner or sole trader) the amount of income tax you've paid should be on your group certificate, payment summary or income statement from your employer.

If that's your only source of income, then the tax you've paid should be very close to what you actually owe. But don't forget to factor in other income sources like dividends from shares, and deductions you can claim.

What are the tax thresholds for the 2026-27 financial year?

To better understand how your tax is calculated, refer to the tax threshold table below.

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

Income tax rates also depend on your income and your residency status. Non-residents are taxed at a high rate and are not entitled to a tax-free threshold.

So if you're a non-resident, you'll need to pay tax on all income earned from an Australian source.

Your general tax questions answered

If you’re an Australian resident for tax purposes, you’ll be taxed on your foreign pensions, annuities, capital gains from overseas properties and more. Australia has a system to avoid double taxation in the event that you get taxed in the country where your income comes from. If you’re not an Australian resident, you usually won’t need to declare earnings from overseas sources.

Want more tips on tax?

Use our comprehensive tax guides to stay on top of your finances this tax season.

How to complete a tax return

Whether it’s your first time or you're a seasoned veteran, lodging a tax return can be tricky. Let finder.com.au walk you through the process step-by-step.

The ultimate guide to tax deductions

Deductions are purchases that you can deduct from your total taxable income, meaning you could pay less tax. Find out the general legislation surrounding tax deductions, as well as some specific examples.

Top tips for maximising your tax returns

Our five top tips for using tax deductions to your advantage and boosting this year’s tax return.

Finder writers are subject matter experts and use primary sources, in-depth research and interviews with other experts to ensure you're getting accurate, up-to-date information. Articles are fact checked in line with our editorial guidelines.
1. Treasury Laws Amendment (More Cost of Living Relief) Act 2025

Thank you for your feedback!

Written by

Alison Banney

Editorial Manager, Money

Add to Preferred Sources

Alison is an editor at Finder and a personal finance journalist with over 10 years of experience, having contributed to major financial institutions and publications such as Westpac, Money Magazine, and Yahoo Finance. She is frequently quoted in media outlets like SmartCompany and SBS, offering expert insights on superannuation and money management. Alison holds a Bachelor of Communications in Public Relations and Journalism from the University of Newcastle, and has earned three ASIC RG146 certifications in superannuation, securities and managed investments and general financial advice, ensuring her expertise is fully aligned with ASIC standards. See full bio

Alison's expertise

Alison has written 592 Finder guides across topics including:

Superannuation
Savings accounts, bank accounts and term deposits
Budgeting and money-saving hacks
Managing the cost of living

More resources on Finder

Ask a question

Click here to cancel reply.

Display name

Your email (will not be published)

Your question

Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our Terms Of Service and Finder Group Privacy & Cookies Policy.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

156 Responses

aluOctober 14, 2016

hi i want to ask when can i claim my tax return and can i do so while am working still i heard that u can if SARS already has deducted 50000 from me is this true??

Finder

ShirleyOctober 14, 2016Finder

Hi Alu,

Thanks for your question.

Please note that finder.com.au is an Australian comparison service, we are only allowed to provider general advice relevant to Australia only.

Since SARS is based in South Africa, we highly recommend that you speak to an expert relevant for that location.

Sorry that we couldn’t assist you further.

GrahamSeptember 17, 2016

Hi there, I had earned 59,000 this year and have HECS debt of 9800. I have earned of the threshold of 54000. I have a property overseas. Apparently saying that I have earned interest on it. I have now a bill of 4800. Is this right as I think my tax is wrong.

Finder

ShirleySeptember 19, 2016Finder

Hi Graham,

Thanks for your question.

Unfortunately your question is beyond the scope of our advice. We can only offer general advice that doesn’t take into account investments and HECS.

If you’d like to discuss your personal situation in further detail, we recommend you speak to an online tax agent.

I hope this has helped.

THANDIWEAugust 29, 2016

HELLOW I WANT TO KNOW IF IM EARNING 7500.00 A MONTHLY HOW MUCH THE TAX THAT CAN BE THEY TAX WITH MY COMPANY AND THE TOTAL YRS STATISTICAL DATA THANK U

Finder

ClarizzaAugust 30, 2016Finder

Hi Thandiwe,

Thanks for your comment.

If your annual income is $90,000, you are liable to pay $21,247.00 in tax – that is for one financial year.

Regards,
Clarizza

TimAugust 29, 2016

I am a New Zealand citizen, I have worked in Australia for two months and have earned close to $18000, do I apply for the no tax bracket? Thanks

Finder

ClarizzaAugust 29, 2016Finder

Hi Tim,

Thanks for your question.

If you earn under $18,200, you are not liable to pay tax. If you are still unsure, you can speak to an online tax agent to discuss your personal situation.

Clarizza

SanjeeAugust 27, 2016

How to depreciate my laptop which is more than AUD 1000. (Which is not a low cost asset)

Finder

ClarizzaAugust 29, 2016Finder

Hi Sanjee,

Thanks for your comment. Are you enquiring about how to claim depreciation on your laptop? If you use the laptop to earn your income, you can claim the depreciation on tax. The ATO website is a good resource for finding out how to claim the depreciation on such items, otherwise, you may want to read more on our Depreciation vs. Full Claim page.

Please note, we are a comparison website and as such provide general advice only.

Clarizza

More guides on Finder

Online tax return via myGov vs using a tax agent
Lodging your tax return yourself online via myGov is free, but a professional tax agent can help you maximise your refund and save you time.
Tax and the gig economy: What you need to know
Mark Chapman goes through the tax requirements you need to know about if you're an Uber driver, Airbnb host or do other work in the gig economy.
Tax deductions: What can I claim on tax?
Here's what you can and can't claim in your tax return. See our checklist here and know what receipts you need to keep.
Tax return deadline: When is my tax return due?
Your tax return has a different deadline depending on which financial year you're filing for, and whether or not you're using a tax agent. See which tax return due date applies to you in this guide.
How to save money on tax in Australia
How does income tax work, and how can you save money on your next tax return? Find out in this handy guide.
Do you pay tax on savings account interest in Australia?
If you earn interest from a savings account, you need to pay tax on that interest at the same rate as the rest of your annual taxable income.
Cheap tax agents and tax accountants
Compare cheap tax agents and accountants that can help you lodge your tax return, claim more deductions and get you more tax back.
Tax and record keeping – how many years of receipts should I keep?
What records do you need to keep when it comes to your tax return and how long for?
Tax tips: How to get more tax return
We’ve put together a list of our best tips for boosting this year’s tax return. Maximise your tax refund today.

Income tax calculator

Use our simple tax calculator to see how much tax you'll pay for the 2024-25 financial year, and what your tax return may look like.