How to Lodge Your 2025–26 Tax Return in Australia: Deadlines, Documents & What’s New
Key Takeaways
- Self-lodgers must lodge by 31 October 2026; clients of a Registered Tax Agent generally have until 15 May 2027.
- You must register with a tax agent before 31 October to access the extended deadline.
- Gather income statements, bank interest, dividends, private health details and expense receipts before lodging.
- Tax agent fees are tax deductible in the following year.
Introduction
The end of the 2025–26 financial year is almost here — and that means tax return season is just around the corner. Whether you’re a salaried employee, a sole trader, a property investor, or a share market enthusiast, lodging your annual income tax return correctly and on time is one of the most important financial tasks of the year.
But with changing rules, new ATO guidance, and the temptation to lodge early, it’s easy to make costly mistakes. This guide covers everything you need to know to lodge your 2025–26 tax return smoothly, accurately, and on time.
Key Lodgement Deadlines for 2025–26
The first thing to know is your deadline — and it depends on how you lodge.
Self-Lodgers (myTax)
If you prepare and lodge your own tax return using the ATO’s free myTax platform, your deadline is 31 October 2026. If that date falls on a weekend, the due date shifts to the next business day.
Clients of a Registered Tax Agent
If you use a registered tax agent, you can access extended lodgement deadlines — often as late as 15 May 2027 for most individual clients. However, there’s a critical catch: you must be registered with your tax agent before 31 October 2026 to be included in their lodgement program.
Some clients face earlier deadlines:
- 31 October 2026 — if you had outstanding prior-year returns as of 30 June 2025
- 31 March 2027 — if your most recent return resulted in a tax liability of $20,000 or more
If you’re unsure which deadline applies to you, speak to your tax agent now — before the October cut-off.
myTax vs. Registered Tax Agent: Which Is Right for You?
The ATO’s myTax platform is free, available 24/7 from 1 July, and uses pre-fill data to automatically populate much of your return. It’s a great option if your tax affairs are straightforward — for example, if you earn a salary, have some bank interest, and claim standard work-related deductions.
However, a registered tax agent is worth considering if you have:
- Rental property income or capital gains
- Business or sole trader income
- Trust or partnership distributions
- Foreign income or complex investments
- A history of ATO reviews or amendments
Tax agent fees are generally tax-deductible, and a good agent can identify deductions and offsets you might otherwise miss — often saving you more than the cost of their fee.
When to Lodge: Don’t Rush In
One of the most common mistakes Australians make is lodging their tax return too early. The ATO strongly advises waiting until late July before lodging, because that’s when most pre-fill data from employers, banks, and health funds is complete.
The key signal to look for: your employer’s income statement should be marked ‘Tax ready’ in myGov before you lodge. If you lodge before this happens, you may need to amend your return later — which creates extra work and potential delays to your refund.
Note: Some data arrives even later. Information from Taxable Payments Annual Reports (TPAR) — relevant to many contractors and subcontractors — is generally not available until after 28 August 2026.
Documents and Records to Gather
Good record-keeping is the foundation of a smooth tax return. In most cases, you must keep records for five years from the date you lodge. Here’s what to gather:
Income Records
- Income statements from your employer (available via myGov)
- Government payments from Centrelink or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
- Bank interest statements from all financial institutions
- Dividend statements from shares you own
- Rental income records — all rent received and a full list of expenses
- Business income records if you’re a sole trader
- Capital gains information — from property, shares, or cryptocurrency sales
Deduction Records
- Work-related expenses — receipts for tools, equipment, uniforms, professional subscriptions
- Car expenses — logbook or kilometres record for work-related travel
- Working from home — diary of hours worked from home, plus utility bills
- Self-education — receipts for course fees and study materials
- Charitable donations — receipts from registered charities
- Tax agent fees from the previous year
Tip: If your total work-related claims exceed $300, you must have written evidence (receipts or invoices) for every expense — not just bank statements.
The ATO’s myDeductions tool in the ATO app is a handy way to store receipts and track expenses digitally throughout the year.
What’s New for the 2025–26 Tax Return
Several important changes apply to this year’s return:
Non-Deductible Interest Charges
From 1 July 2025, individuals can no longer claim a tax deduction for General Interest Charge (GIC) or Shortfall Interest Charge (SIC) imposed by the ATO. If you’ve been claiming these in previous years, note that this deduction is no longer available.
Rental Property Guidance
The ATO has issued new rulings clarifying the tax treatment of rental properties — including rules for short-term rentals, how to apportion expenses for properties with mixed private and rental use, and holiday home rules. If you own an investment property, review these updates carefully.
Trust Reporting Improvements
The ATO is introducing new labels on trust tax returns to better capture distribution data. This will flow through to the pre-fill service for individual beneficiaries — making it easier to report trust income accurately.
What Does NOT Apply Yet
The ATO has confirmed that several widely discussed proposals do not apply to the 2025–26 return:
- The proposed $1,000 standard deduction for work-related expenses (proposed from 1 July 2026)
- The Working Australians Tax Offset
- Changes to Capital Gains Tax or negative gearing rules
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Lodging too early before pre-fill data is finalised
- Claiming deductions without records — bank statements alone are not enough
- Forgetting to apportion expenses used for both work and private purposes
- Claiming home-to-work travel — this is private travel and is generally not deductible
- Failing to declare all income — including side hustles, sharing economy income, and crypto gains
What Happens After You Lodge?
Once you submit your return, the ATO processes it and issues a Notice of Assessment (NOA). Processing times are approximately:
- Online (myTax): ~2 weeks (10 business days)
- Paper return: ~10 weeks (50 business days)
You can track your return’s progress in real time via ATO online services through myGov.
If you’re owed a refund, it will be deposited directly into your nominated bank account — so make sure your details are up to date. If you have a tax bill, your NOA will state the amount and due date (typically 21 November 2026 for self-lodgers who file on time).
Penalties for Late Lodgement
Missing the lodgement deadline can result in a Failure to Lodge (FTL) penalty — calculated at one penalty unit for every 28-day period the return is overdue, up to a maximum of five penalty units. The ATO generally doesn’t apply penalties for isolated late lodgements that result in a refund or nil balance, but persistent non-compliance can lead to firmer action.
If you receive a penalty, you can request remission — particularly if the delay was caused by circumstances outside your control, such as illness or a natural disaster.
Get Your 2025–26 Tax Return Right — With TaxServe Australia
Tax time doesn’t have to be stressful. With the right preparation and the right advice, you can lodge confidently, claim everything you’re entitled to, and avoid the mistakes that trigger ATO reviews.
At TaxServe Australia, our experienced tax professionals help individuals, sole traders, and small business owners navigate every aspect of their tax return — from gathering the right documents to maximising legitimate deductions and meeting every deadline.
Contact TaxServe Australia today to book your 2025–26 tax return appointment. Don’t leave it to the last minute — our calendar fills up fast during tax season.
Sources
- Australian Taxation Office — Key dates for individuals
- Australian Taxation Office — How to lodge your tax return
- Australian Taxation Office — Lodge your tax return online with myTax
- Australian Taxation Office — Pre-fill availability
- Australian Taxation Office — What’s new for individuals
- Australian Taxation Office — Failure to lodge on time penalty
- CPA Australia — Changes in store for 2025 tax time
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2025-26 tax return due in Australia?
If you lodge your own return, the deadline is 31 October 2026. If you use a Registered Tax Agent and are on their lodgement program, you generally have until 15 May 2027, provided you are registered with the agent before 31 October.
What documents do I need to lodge my tax return?
You need your income statements (PAYG/STP), bank interest, dividend and managed-fund statements, private health insurance statement, records of work-related expenses and receipts, and details of any rental, business or capital gains income.
Can I lodge my tax return myself or should I use a tax agent?
You can lodge yourself via myTax, but a Registered Tax Agent can identify additional deductions, reduce audit risk, and gives you a later lodgement deadline. Agent fees are also tax deductible.