How to Lodge Your Tax Return in Australia (Step by Step)
Lodge your 2024-25 tax return via myTax or a tax agent. Deadlines, a step-by-step myTax walkthrough, refund timing, and what happens if you lodge late.
By Timothy Hirou GaschereauPublished 9 min read
Try it yourself
Lodging your tax return sounds like a chore, but for most people it's a 30-to-90 minute job that the ATO half-does for you. This guide covers when to lodge, the two ways to do it, a step-by-step myTax walkthrough, and what happens after you hit submit. It's part of our guide to Australian income tax.
🎯 The essential: The 2024-25 tax year ended 30 June 2025. You can lodge now, but wait until mid-to-late July for your income statement to show “Tax ready” before you submit. Self-lodgers have until 31 October 2025. Use a registered tax agent and you get until 15 May 2026, but you must be on their books before 31 October.
When can you lodge, and when do you have to?
The Australian financial year runs 1 July to 30 June. The moment 30 June ticks over, you're technically allowed to lodge. But don't rush it. Your employer reports your income through Single Touch Payroll, and your income statement won't show as “Tax ready” until mid-to-late July. Lodge before that and you risk submitting incorrect figures, which means an amendment later.
Key dates: the year opens for lodgement on 1 July 2025; income statements show “Tax ready” mid-to-late July; self-lodgers are due 31 October 2025; and if you use a registered tax agent you have until 15 May 2026 (provided you're on their books before 31 October). Miss 31 October without an agent and the failure to lodge penalty kicks in.
Two ways to lodge your tax return
You've got two options: do it yourself for free via myTax, or hand it to a registered tax agent.
| myTax (DIY) | Registered tax agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | $100 to $400+ (deductible next year) |
| Deadline | 31 October | 15 May the following year |
| Best for | Simple returns: one employer, basic deductions | Complex: ABN income, rental property, multiple jobs |
| Deduction guidance | Limited (ATO prompts help) | Full advice on what you can claim |
| Error risk | Higher if your situation is complex | Lower, the agent is responsible for accuracy |
If you had one employer, no rental property, no ABN income, and a handful of straightforward deductions, myTax is genuinely excellent: free, fast, and the pre-fill does most of the work. The moment your return gets complicated (rental income, a side business, shares with capital gains, or a major life event) a good agent earns their fee, and the fee is tax-deductible the following year.
What you need before you start
- Your Tax File Number and a myGov account linked to the ATO
- Your income statement showing “Tax ready” (myGov, under ATO, Income)
- Bank account details (BSB and account number) for your refund
- Deduction records: receipts, invoices, logbooks, or bank statements
- Your private health insurance statement and, if relevant, spouse income details
- Your HECS-HELP balance, if you have one (the ATO pre-fills the threshold)
How to lodge via myTax, step by step
- Log in to myGov and select the ATO from your linked services (link it under Services if you haven't).
- Go to Tax, Lodge, Income tax return and select the 2024-25 income year.
- Check your pre-filled income. The ATO pre-fills salary, bank interest, Centrelink payments, dividends, and private health details. Confirm each looks right.
- Add any income not pre-filled: freelance/ABN income, rental income, capital gains, foreign income. The ATO gets data from many third parties, so don't skip it.
- Add your deductions: work-related expenses, charitable donations to DGRs, last year's tax agent fee, income protection premiums. See our deductions guide.
- Answer the offsets and Medicare levy questions (private health, spouse income). They affect your final result.
- Review your summary. myTax shows an estimated refund or bill. Sense-check it before submitting.
- Submit and keep your confirmation number. The ATO usually issues your Notice of Assessment within two weeks.
What happens after you lodge?
Once you submit, the ATO takes over. Your Notice of Assessment is the official document confirming your taxable income, tax payable, offsets, and the final result. If you're owed money, a refund goes to your nominated account, typically within two weeks of a myTax lodgement. If you owe tax, the notice shows a due date (usually 21 November if you lodged before 31 October).
Can't pay the full amount? Don't ignore it. The ATO charges the General Interest Charge on unpaid tax, so set up a payment plan via myGov or call the ATO on 13 28 61. Hold onto your Notice of Assessment: it's used for income verification on rental applications and other myGov income-linked services.
Made a mistake? How to amend your return
Honest mistakes happen and the ATO knows this. If you forgot a deduction or entered the wrong income, you can lodge an amendment via myGov (Tax, Lodgements, Amend income tax return). Individuals generally have two years from the date of their Notice of Assessment to request an amendment. If the ATO spots a discrepancy first, they'll contact you. Honest mistakes are treated very differently from deliberate omissions, so amend promptly, and if you're worried, talk to a registered tax agent first.
The failure to lodge penalty: what it actually costs
Miss the 31 October deadline and the ATO doesn't just let it slide. The failure to lodge (FTL) penalty is $330 per 28-day period (or part thereof) that your return is overdue, up to a maximum of 5 units = $1,650. So two months late is $660, three months is $990, and after five periods you hit the cap. The ATO can remit the penalty if you have a reasonable excuse (illness, natural disaster, genuine hardship), but the key is to call them on 13 28 61 and explain rather than ignore it.
The bottom line: wait for “Tax ready,” get your records and bank details together, and lodge via myTax if your affairs are simple or a tax agent if they're not. Lodge by 31 October and you'll usually have your refund within a fortnight. Check your take-home pay first with our salary calculator.
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❓ Frequently asked questions
Do I have to lodge a tax return if I earned under the tax-free threshold?
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Not always, but you should if any tax was withheld from your pay. If your employer took tax out and you earned under $18,200, lodging a return is how you get that money back. The ATO also has a tool to help you check whether you need to lodge.
Can I lodge my tax return on my phone?
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Yes. myTax works on mobile through the myGov app or the myGov mobile site. The ATO also has its own app where you can track your return status and access your income statement.
What if I missed the 31 October deadline?
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Lodge as soon as possible. The failure to lodge penalty accrues per 28-day period, so every day you wait adds to the cost. If you have a reasonable excuse (illness, hardship, natural disaster), call the ATO on 13 28 61: they can remit the penalty if your circumstances warrant it. Don't just leave it.
How long does a tax refund take?
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Typically within two weeks if you lodge via myTax and your bank details are correct. Paper lodgements take significantly longer, up to 10 weeks.
What's the difference between a payment summary and an income statement?
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Payment summaries were replaced by income statements from 2018-19 onward. Your employer now reports your income directly to the ATO via Single Touch Payroll, and you access your income statement through myGov. Same information, different delivery method.
Can I claim a deduction without a receipt?
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For work-related expenses under $300 in total, you don't need receipts, but the expense must be genuine, work-related, and actually paid by you. Above $300, you need written evidence. The ATO's myDeductions tool in the ATO app is handy for tracking expenses through the year.
📚 Recommended reading
The Barefoot Investor
Scott Pape
The Barefoot Investor
Scott Pape
Australia's best-selling money book ever. A simple system for accounts, budgeting, debt and a real emergency fund in one.
Making Money Made Simple
Noel Whittaker
Making Money Made Simple
Noel Whittaker
Australia's classic, comprehensive money guide covering tax, super and investing, updated for today.
On Your Own Two Feet
Helen Baker
On Your Own Two Feet
Helen Baker
An Aussie financial planner's essential guide to money independence for women, covering every life stage from single to separated. Warm, practical and genuinely on your side.
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 and does not constitute financial or tax advice. Deadlines, penalties and processes change over time, so check the latest ATO guidance and speak to a registered tax agent about your own situation.
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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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