How Long Does a Tax Refund Take in Australia?
Lodged your tax return and wondering where your refund is? How long the ATO takes to process returns, how to check progress, and what to do if it is delayed.
By Timothy Hirou GaschereauPublished 8 min read
You have lodged, and now you are refreshing your banking app every hour. So how long does a tax refund take in Australia? If you lodged online via myTax, the ATO usually processes your return in about 12 business days (roughly two weeks), then allow up to 5 more business days for the money to clear into your account.
Paper returns are a different story (up to 10 weeks). Here is the realistic timeline, how to check where your refund is, and why it sometimes drags. General information only, and ATO timeframes are estimates that can stretch in the busy July-August period.
🎯 The essential: Online returns via myTax are typically processed in about 12 business days; paper returns take up to 50 business days (10 weeks). After processing, allow up to 5 more business days for the refund to hit your bank (the ATO pays by bank transfer, not cheque). Check progress any time in myGov or the ATO app, and do not re-lodge while it is processing. The most common delays are lodging too early, data mismatches and wrong bank details, all avoidable.
The short answer
Lodged online, the ATO's standard processing time is about 12 business days. Once processing finishes and your notice of assessment is issued, allow up to a further 5 business days for the refund to clear into your nominated bank account. So in the best case you are looking at money in your account around 2.5 to 3 calendar weeks after lodging online.
Paper returns take up to 50 business days (about 10 weeks), and may not even appear in ATO systems for up to 7 weeks after you post them. A few things to know: the ATO pays by bank transfer (not cheque), and July and August are peak season, so times can stretch a little beyond these estimates.
Online vs paper lodgement
| Stage | Approx timing from lodgement (online) |
|---|---|
| Lodge return via myTax | Day 0 |
| Return received by the ATO | Same or next business day |
| Processing begins | Within a few business days |
| Notice of assessment issued | Around day 12 (business days) |
| Refund paid to bank account | Up to 5 business days later |
How to check where your refund is
Do not just refresh your bank app. There are three easy ways to check progress:
- myGov: log in, select ATO, then Tax then Manage tax returns and choose the income year.
- ATO app: log in and tap Your tax return.
- ATO self-help line: call 13 28 65 with your TFN ready.
What the status messages actually mean:
- Received / started processing: your return is in the queue. All good.
- In progress - Processing: the ATO is actively working through it (this can appear more than once).
- In progress - Balancing account: the ATO is cross-checking against its records and other agencies. Normal, not a red flag.
- Issued: processing is done and, if you are due a refund, it is on its way within up to 5 business days.
Why your refund might be delayed
- You lodged too early. Pre-fill from your employer, bank and health fund is usually ready by late July; lodge in early July and it may sit in a holding pattern.
- Data mismatches. If your figures do not line up with what employers, banks and funds reported, the return gets flagged.
- Selected for review. Manual checks can take up to 30 calendar days; the ATO will contact you if it needs more.
- Wrong or missing bank details. The ATO cannot pay you if the account is wrong.
- Refund offsets. The ATO can offset your refund against tax debts, or pay it to Centrelink or Child Support if you owe them.
- First-time lodgers, amendments lodged before the original finalises, or several years lodged at once can all add time.
Worth knowing: some of these overlap with the things that draw ATO scrutiny generally. Our guide to ATO audit red flags covers how data matching works.
What to do if it is taking too long
- Wait the standard time first (12 business days online, 50 on paper). Check the calendar before assuming something is wrong.
- Check your status in myGov or the ATO app; the message usually tells you what is happening.
- Do not re-lodge. Duplicate lodgements get flagged and slow things down further.
- Fix your bank details if wrong: myGov (My profile then Financial institution details) or the ATO app (More then My details).
- Call the ATO on 13 28 65 if the status has not moved and you are well past the standard time.
One important note: if a refund is paid to the wrong bank account, the ATO generally cannot retrieve those funds, which is exactly why getting your details right before you lodge matters.
Tips to get your refund faster
- Lodge online via myTax, not on paper. 12 business days versus 10 weeks is not a small gap.
- Wait until late July so pre-fill is complete and accurate.
- Check your bank details in myGov before you lodge. Thirty seconds now saves weeks later.
- Respond quickly to any ATO request; the clock effectively pauses until you reply.
- Make sure your TFN is correct to avoid identity checks.
For the full walkthrough, see how to lodge your tax return and the tax return deadline and key dates. If the ATO is late paying certain refunds, it may automatically add Delayed Refund Interest, so you do not need to claim that separately.
❓ Frequently asked questions
How long does a tax refund take in Australia?
+
For online returns via myTax, the ATO's standard processing time is about 12 business days. After that, allow up to 5 more business days for the refund to reach your bank. Paper returns take up to 50 business days (10 weeks). These are estimates and can vary with your circumstances.
Why hasn't my tax refund arrived after 2 weeks?
+
Two weeks is right on the edge of the standard timeframe. Check your status in myGov or the ATO app first. Common reasons for a delay: lodging too early before pre-fill was ready, a data mismatch, incorrect bank details, or your return being selected for a manual review (up to 30 calendar days). Do not re-lodge.
How do I check the progress of my tax return?
+
Log into myGov, select ATO, then Tax then Manage tax returns and choose the income year. You can also check in the ATO app under Your tax return, or call the ATO self-help line on 13 28 65 with your TFN ready.
Can the ATO keep my tax refund?
+
Yes. The ATO can offset your refund against tax debts you owe, or pay it to other agencies like Services Australia (Centrelink) or Child Support if you owe them. It will also hold your refund if it has no bank account details on file for you.
What does 'In progress - Balancing account' mean?
+
It means the ATO is cross-checking your return against its own records and data from other agencies before finalising. It is a normal step, not a warning sign, and the status should move to 'Issued' once it is done.
Should I lodge as early as possible to get my refund faster?
+
Not necessarily. Lodging in the first days of July, before pre-fill from your employer, bank and health fund has loaded, is a common cause of delays. The ATO suggests waiting until late July so your pre-fill is complete. A clean, accurate return processes faster than one that triggers a mismatch.
Keep reading
The bottom line
For most people lodging online, a refund lands roughly three weeks after lodging: about 12 business days to process, plus a few days for the bank. Lodge online, wait for pre-fill, check your bank details, and resist the urge to re-lodge, and the wait is usually short and painless.
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Some links above are affiliate links. If you buy through them, Snowball Invest may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend books we'd suggest anyway.
Sources
This article is general information only, not tax advice. ATO processing timeframes are estimates and can vary depending on your circumstances. Check ato.gov.au or speak with a registered tax agent for guidance specific to your situation.
Was this article useful?
General information only. This article is educational and does not constitute personal financial advice. It does not account for your circumstances. Consider your own situation and seek advice from a licensed adviser before acting. Read our full disclaimer.
Timothy Hirou Gaschereau
Founder of Snowball Invest, not a financial adviser.
I write about what I'm learning myself, because nobody ever taught us how to take control of our own money. It's a skill, not a mystery, and it's never too late to learn it. The best day to start was yesterday, the second best is today.
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