How to do your tax return for 2025–26
How to make sense of tax time and everything that changed from July 1.
Key takeaways
- If you work or earn any sort of income through investments, you're required to lodge a tax return with the Australian Tax Office (ATO) each year.
- The financial year runs from July 1 through to June 30. Your tax return needs to be lodged by 31 October 2026 (or later if you have an accountant).
- Several big tax changes came into effect from 1 July, which it's important to know about.
Now: what is a tax return?
If you've earned any money in Australia throughout the financial year (1 July to 30 June) you need to declare this at tax time. This includes children.
If you've paid too much tax throughout the year you'll get some back in the form of a return. If you've underpaid, you'll owe some tax.
Your tax return is also a chance to declare work-related expenses as deductions, to boost your return.
If you're after a bit of help with your tax return, an Australian tax agent can help you correctly lodge your tax return.
"In the second year of doing my tax return as a non-permanent resident I realised that I could claim the taxes I had paid in the year for Medicare as I am not eligible for it. Once my accountant told me this, all I had to do was fill a form which was submitted with my tax return. I was even able to submit one for my first year when I didn't claim it. Depending on how much you are earning it can be upwards of $2,000!"
All the changes from 1 July 2026
Income tax cuts
As of 1 July 2026, the 16% tax rate dropped to 15%. This effectively delivered a tax cut to most Australian workers.
The 15% tax rate applies to every dollar earned between $18,201 – $45,000.
Moving to 15% means most workers will pay $268 less in tax in the 2026-27 financial year.
From 1 July 2027, this rate falls to 14%.
Payday super
As of 1 July your employer must pay your superannuation along with your salary (rather than every 3 months).
This means your super gets paid earlier, and makes it much easier to check you're getting paid correctly.
$20,000 Instant Asset Write-Off
The $20,000 Instant Asset Write-Off has become permanent from 1 July 2026. This write-off allows businesses with turnover below $10 million a year to instantly claim a full deduction on business assets that cost up to $20,000.
$1,000 instant tax deduction
Workers will be able to claim an instant $1,000 tax deduction without providing receipts. This should save the average worker around $205 when they do their 2026–27 tax return next year.
Changes from 1 July 2027
Working Australians Tax Offset
From 1 July 2027 every working Australian gets a $250 tax cut. This $250 tax offset effectively raises the tax-free threshold.
How to lodge your tax return
- Step 1. Decide which way to lodge - online yourself or with a tax agent. Online through the ATO is free and simple; you just need records of your deductible expenses. If you use a tax agent they can manage the process for you and help you claim for items you may not have realised you could claim.
- Step 2. Either way: You'll need to gather the info and documents you need to support your claims. Receipts, invoices, bank statements: these will all help you verify your claims, if you ever get audited.
- Step 3. Set aside a couple of hours to lodge your tax return via the ATO's online portal, inside MyGov. Often, information like your income and any bank interest you've earned is already listed, if you give your MyGov account permission to collect data from your employer and the bank. If you don't want to dive into it yourself, you can hand all your docs over to your tax agent to do it for you.
- Step 4. Lodge your return with the ATO. The earliest you can do this is around mid-July, as the government gives banks and employers a couple of weeks to get all of their information filed and up to date before you lodge.
ATO Tax return deadlines
If you're doing your tax return yourself online, you have until 31 October 2026 to submit your tax return.
If you're using a registered tax professional you generally have until May in the following year.
Make sure you lodge your tax return ahead of the deadline set by the ATO each financial year, or you risk getting a penalty.
Should you do your tax return yourself, or get professional support?
You can complete your tax return yourself online for free using the ATO's tool myTax, or you can seek support from a registered tax agent.
An accountant or tax agent can help you maximise your deductions and is especially useful if you have a complex tax situation (multiple income streams or investments, you run a business etc).
More helpful tax guides
- The pros and cons of tax agents and DIY
- Choosing the right tax agent
- How to maximise your tax deductions
Expert insight: Why your tax return actually helps you
"Most people earning an income in Australia will need to lodge a tax return, and while this comes with some administration work, it also comes with an opportunity. When you use the rules to your advantage, you'll keep more of your hard-earned income and get ahead faster. Like anything worthwhile, tax planning is a skill set you build over time, and building your knowledge is the first step. "
Expert insight: Remember to think about capital gains
"When deciding if you need to lodge a tax return, it's important to consider whether you have capital gains or foreign income. Even if your taxable income is below the tax-free threshold, you must still lodge a return if you've realised any capital gains (such as from selling shares, cryptocurrency, or property) or received foreign income. This is crucial because the ATO requires you to report these types of income, and their reporting capabilities are continuously improving. Failing to declare can result in significant fines and penalties"
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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Hi
how can I find a Tax agent through your website ? Let’s say Fin tax Group. It does not let me the option of choosing the agent
Hi,
You can use our site to compare some different tax agents and when you’ve found one you’d like more information on you can visit their site directly. We don’t currently link directly to their sites.
Thanks,
Alison
I have a friend who has just sold their family home in China. They will move here permanently soon. What is the best way to transfer the sale money to Australia? Is it taxable? If they send in multiple amounts less than $10,000 is that OK?
Thank you.
Hi Philly,
Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.
According to our review on tax implications on large money transfers, if someone is planning to send a large sum of money to you in Australia, you could be on the hook for taxes regulated by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), depending on the reason why they are sending it to you.
You may also refer to our guide on how your friend from China can open a bank account in Australia.
I hope this helps.
Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any other enquiries.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
My previous employer sold the business I work for early this year, he never sent me a group certificate and I cant phone him to get one sent. How do I lodge with out that group certificate? Any help would be appreciated.
Hello Sharon,
Thank you for your inquiry.
You may consider checking the pre-filing service in myTax if your employer is unable to give you a group certificate. There are ways on how to get it without your employer, usually a statutory declaration is no longer required.
Alternatively, you can review ATO page regarding details about obtaining payment summary information, which includes a gross pay estimator to help you reconstruct.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jonathan
Last year [2015-16] I downloaded an ATO app. Filled it out with my Income/Expenses (tax relevant) and then lodged it online. Question – Can I do the same this year?
Hi Denis,
Yes, you can lodge your tax return the same way. Please make sure to lodge your tax return by the 31 October deadline to avoid penalties. If you are completing your own tax return and are unable to lodge by 31 October, kindly contact ATO as soon as possible.
Cheers,
Liezl
Is it possible to do my return now.I haven’t earnt any money this financial year. My only income has been centrelinks newstart .I am owed $2146 from tax i paid from a super claim.as my circumstances will not change and it was only one day that stopped me claiming last year .I wonder if i could do it now as I’m in a desperate situation.i have a car which doesn’t go and am going to living in it unless I can find a way to pay overdue rent.I have serious back issues that will get worse if this happens .thank for you time.Christine
Hi Christine,
Thank you for your inquiry.
If you want to find out if you can lodge a return for 2015-16, you’d need to read ATO’s lodge a tax return guide. If you can lodge, then there are instructions from the Department of Human Services that you can follow on how you can lodge your tax return.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
May