Tax Return 2025-26 — Australian lodgement guide

The 2025-26 FY ran 1 Jul 2025 – 30 Jun 2026. Tax returns are due 31 October 2026 if you self-lodge via myGov, or 15 May 2027 via a registered tax agent (if you were on their list before 31 Oct 2026).

Your 2025-26 lodgement workflow

  1. 1

    Wait until your income statement is 'Tax ready'

    Employers have until 14 July 2026 to finalise Single Touch Payroll (STP) data. Lodging before your myGov shows 'Tax ready' means you'll likely have to amend later. Rule of thumb: don't file in the first two weeks of July.

    Tax Return Calculator — estimate refund
  2. 2

    Gather your deduction records

    Work-from-home hours & running-cost method, work-related expenses (uniform, training, tools, vehicle log books), self-education, rental property income + expenses, investment CGT events, donations of any amount to DGRs, super personal contributions notice (NAT 71121).

    WFH Deductions Calculator
  3. 3

    Pre-fill in myGov / myTax

    Log in at my.gov.au → ATO linked service → lodge 2026 return. Pre-fill loads salary, interest, dividends, managed fund income, and health insurance from ATO data. Always double-check — pre-fill can be incomplete for trust distributions, foreign income, and crypto.

    Pre-lodgement checklist
  4. 4

    Claim your deductions

    Add work-related ($300 no-receipt cap), self-education, charity, personal super contributions (with ATO acknowledgment), rental expenses. Check Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) — private health hospital cover avoids 1-1.5% for incomes over $101k single / $202k family (2025-26).

    Medicare Levy + MLS Calculator
  5. 5

    Submit and pay (or track your refund)

    Most refunds land within 10-14 days for lodgements accepted by ATO. If you owe tax, the pay-by date is shown on your Notice of Assessment — typically 21 November 2026 for self-lodgers. Missing the deadline triggers $364+ FTL penalties plus General Interest Charge (GIC).

    ATO Interest Calculator

Key dates — 2025-26 lodgement cycle

Date Event Who
1 Jul 2025 2025-26 FY starts All taxpayers
30 Jun 2026 2025-26 FY ends All taxpayers
14 Jul 2026 Employers finalise STP — 'Tax ready' in myGov Employees
31 Oct 2026 Self-lodgement deadline Self-lodgers
21 Nov 2026 Typical pay-by date on NoA for self-lodgers If you owe tax
15 May 2027 Tax agent lodgement deadline (via registered agent) Agent clients on agent's list before 31 Oct 2026

Full ATO timetable: lodgement deadlines · AU tax calendar.

Common 2025-26 lodgement mistakes

  • Lodging before 'Tax ready'

    Pre-14 July lodgements often need amendment when employers finalise STP. Wait until myGov shows 'Tax ready' on every employer.

  • Forgetting trust / managed fund distributions

    Annual tax statements arrive Aug-Oct. Trust distributions auto-pre-fill only after issuer files — don't lodge without them.

  • Over-claiming working from home

    70c fixed rate (PCG 2023/1, from 1 Jul 2024) covers everything — electricity, gas, internet, phone, stationery — so you can't claim those separately on top. Actual-cost method needs a 4-week diary and per-bill apportionment.

  • Ignoring Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS)

    1-1.5% surcharge if income over $101,000 single / $202,000 family without private hospital cover. Appears as a surprise bill at lodgement.

  • Missing CGT events on crypto / shares

    Every disposal (sell, swap, gift, coin-to-coin) is a CGT event. ATO data-matches exchanges + share registries. Unreported gains trigger amendments + penalties.

  • Not declaring gig / side-hustle income

    Uber, DoorDash, Airtasker, OnlyFans, Etsy — all assessable. ATO has data-sharing deals with most major platforms (sharing-economy reporting regime).

Late lodgement penalties → · ATO audit red flags → · Agent vs self-lodgement →

Related tools for lodgement

Tax Refund Estimator

Quick refund / balance check

Income Tax Calculator

2025-26 brackets + LITO + Medicare

Rental Deduction Wizard

Interest, depreciation, repairs

Capital Gains Tax

50% discount + cost base

Sole Trader Tax

Business income + instant write-off

Depreciation Calculator

Plant & equipment, motor vehicle

PAYG Calculator

Cross-check what was withheld

Occupation Deduction Guides

Nurses, tradies, teachers, IT, more

Frequently asked questions

Who has to lodge a tax return for 2025-26?
You must lodge if during 1 Jul 2025 – 30 Jun 2026 you had taxable income above $18,200 (tax-free threshold), any PAYG withheld (even below threshold if you want that back), ran a business, received Australian government pensions/allowances with tax withheld, had CGT events, foreign income, or received a Notice to Lodge from the ATO. Non-residents generally must lodge if they earned Australian-sourced income.
When is the 2025-26 tax return deadline?
31 October 2026 if you self-lodge via myGov/myTax. 15 May 2027 if you lodge through a registered tax agent — but only if you were on the agent's client list before 31 October 2026. Otherwise the self-lodgement deadline still applies.
What if I miss the 31 October 2026 deadline?
Failure-to-Lodge (FTL) penalty: $364 base unit per 28 days late, up to 5 units ($1,820). Plus General Interest Charge (GIC) on any unpaid tax, currently 11.43% (Jul-Sep 2026). If you have outstanding prior-year returns, lodging late can trigger a default assessment.
Should I use a tax agent or self-lodge?
Self-lodge in myGov/myTax if your situation is simple (salary, HELP, WFH, minor deductions, no rentals, no business). Use a tax agent if you have rental properties, CGT events, trust income, a small business, or cross-border income — the fee is deductible the following year and the 15 May extension alone is worth it.
I had crypto gains this year. What do I need to report?
Every CGT event — sell, swap, coin-to-coin, spending crypto to buy goods, gifting. Report the capital gain (with 50% discount if held > 12 months) or loss. ATO data-matches major Australian exchanges (CoinSpot, Independent Reserve, Binance AU, Swyftx) and foreign ones via CRS.
Can I amend my return after lodging?
Yes. You can amend in myGov within 2 years (individuals) or 4 years (businesses / complex returns). Usual reason to amend: employer finalised STP late, trust distribution arrived after lodgement, forgot a deduction, pre-fill data updated.
When will I get my refund?
Most electronically-lodged, ATO-accepted returns are refunded within 10-14 days. Slower if ATO flags the return for review (deduction amount outlier, first rental year, CGT event). Track progress in myGov under ATO > Tax > Income tax.

Not sure where to start?

Estimate your 2025-26 refund or balance in 60 seconds — then come back to work through the lodgement steps.

Start the Tax Return Calculator

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