Tax Return Calculator Australia

Find out if you'll get money back or owe the ATO when you lodge your tax return. Enter your income, the tax already withheld, and your deductions to estimate your refund.

Uses 2025–26 Australian tax rates. This is an estimate only — your actual refund may differ.

How your tax return works

Throughout the year, your employer withholds tax from your pay based on how much they expect you'll owe. When you lodge your tax return, the ATO calculates your actual tax liability and compares it to what was withheld:

• Refund — If more was withheld than you owe, you get the difference back
• Amount owing — If less was withheld than you owe, you need to pay the difference

What affects your refund?

Deductions

Deductions reduce your taxable income, which reduces your tax liability. Common deductions include:

• Work-related expenses — uniforms, tools, travel between work sites
• Working from home — 70c per hour or actual expenses
• Self-education — courses related to your current job
• Donations — to registered charities ($2 or more)
• Income protection insurance — premiums you pay

Tip: You can claim up to $300 in work expenses without receipts, but you must have actually spent the money. For claims over $300, you need records.

Multiple income sources

If you had multiple jobs, investment income, or other income sources, you may not have had enough tax withheld. Each payer withholds tax as if they're your only income source, which can lead to under-withholding.

Tax offsets

Tax offsets (like LMITO, now ended, or private health insurance rebate) reduce your tax payable directly. This calculator doesn't include offsets — your actual refund may be higher if you're eligible.

Common reasons for a tax bill

• Multiple jobs without adjusting PAYG withholding
• Investment income (dividends, interest, rent) with no tax withheld
• Capital gains from selling shares or property
• Employer under-withheld tax (incorrect TFN declaration)
• HELP debt repayments not withheld during the year

When to lodge your tax return

• Self-lodging: By 31 October following the end of the financial year
• Using a tax agent: Extended deadlines apply (often until May the following year)
• Lodge early: Wait until mid-August for employer data to be pre-filled in myTax