How to File Your Tax Return in Australia (myTax Guide)

Llandora·Updated 2026-10-14

⚠️ Disclaimer: For general information only — not tax, financial, legal, or medical advice. Figures may be outdated or incorrect; tax rules change frequently. Verify important decisions with the CRA/IRS or a qualified professional (for health topics, a licensed healthcare provider). You use this information at your own risk.

The short answer

Most individuals lodge their Australian tax return online through myTax, inside the ATO's online services accessed via myGov. The return for the year ending 30 June opens on 1 July. If you lodge it yourself, the deadline is 31 October — but engage a registered tax agent before that date and you get access to extended lodgment dates.

Key dates

1 July — myTax opens for the year just ended (1 July – 30 June).
31 October — lodgment deadline for self-lodgers.
21 November — payment due date for most self-prepared returns (shown on your notice of assessment).
Registered tax agent — if you engage one before 31 October, extended lodgment program dates apply.

Step-by-step: lodging with myTax

Link myGov to the ATO. Create a myGov account if you don't have one, then link it to "Australian Taxation Office" to reach ATO online services.
Wait for pre-fill. Employers' income statements, bank interest, and dividends flow into myTax automatically — but they arrive progressively through July and August. Lodging in early July with incomplete pre-fill often leads to amendments later.
Check the pre-filled data against your own records (payslips, bank statements). Pre-fill is convenient, not infallible.
Add your deductions: work-related expenses, charitable donations, tax agent fees, self-education costs.
Declare all other income: foreign income, rental income, capital gains (for example from selling crypto or shares), and any side-business profit.
Review, declare, lodge. Keep the lodgment receipt and a copy of the return.

What records to keep

Keep your tax records for several years after you lodge — receipts fade, digital copies are fine:

Income statements (formerly payment summaries) and payslips
Bank interest and dividend statements
A receipt for every deduction you claim
A logbook if you claim car expenses that way
Your private health insurance statement (it affects the rebate and the Medicare levy surcharge)
Super contribution records

When to use a registered tax agent

You don't need one for a simple salary-only return. Consider it when you have rental property, capital gains, foreign income, business income, are lodging late, or simply want someone liable for the paperwork. Their fees are generally tax-deductible.

Frequently asked questions

I missed the 31 October deadline. What now?

Lodge as soon as possible. Penalties and interest can apply to late lodgment and late payment, and they grow the longer you wait. If you engage a registered tax agent promptly, they can often still lodge under their extended program.

How long until I get my refund?

Lodging electronically through myTax is the fastest route. Track the progress of your return and any refund in myGov under ATO online services.

I earned under $18,200. Do I need to lodge?

Often not — but if any tax was withheld from your pay, lodge a return to claim it back. The ATO also has a "do I need to lodge a tax return?" check to confirm your situation.

I only earned bank interest this year. Do I still declare it?

Yes. Banks report your interest income to the ATO and it is pre-filled into myTax. Make sure you quoted your TFN to the bank — otherwise tax may have been withheld from your interest at a high rate.

Sources

ATO — tax rates for Australian residents: https://www.ato.gov.au/tax-rates-and-codes/tax-rates-australian-residents
ATO — your tax return: https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/your-tax-return
ATO — businesses and organisations: https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations

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