When Can I Lodge My Tax Return? (And When You Should)

The short answer🔗

The 2024-25 income year ran from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025. The moment it closed, tax time opened, and from 1 July you can log into myGov, open myTax and start. But "technically possible" is not "actually ready". Think of it like a restaurant unlocking the door before the kitchen has finished prepping: you can sit down, but the meal is not ready.

Why lodging in the first two weeks of July is a trap🔗

Two things are not ready yet in early July:

• Income statements are not finalised. Under Single Touch Payroll your employer reports pay all year, but they have until 31 July to do the final check and mark your income statement "Tax ready". Lodge before that and your figures may be wrong.
• Pre-fill data takes time to arrive. myTax pulls in bank interest, dividends, private health details and government payments, but those sources report on their own schedules, and most of it is not in until late July.

Lodge too early and you risk missing income (bank interest is the classic), missing pre-filled deductions, or getting flagged for a review when your figures do not match what the ATO later receives. Waiting a few weeks costs you nothing.

How to tell your return is actually ready🔗

Before you hit lodge, run this quick checklist in myTax:

1. Check your income statement status. You want "Tax ready" next to your employer, not "In progress".
2. Check pre-fill has populated: bank interest, dividends, private health details and any government payments should appear.
3. If you have multiple employers, every one must show "Tax ready" first.

Once everything shows "Tax ready" and pre-fill looks complete, you are good to go.

The tax time calendar🔗

The 31 October self-lodge deadline🔗

If you lodge your own return via myTax, the deadline is 31 October. Lodging even a day late can attract a Failure to Lodge penalty, so do not leave it to the last minute. You have four months from 1 July, so there is plenty of time. For the full story on penalties and what to do if you are late, see our tax return deadline guide.

Using a registered tax agent🔗

A registered tax agent works to extended lodgement schedules that can push your deadline well into the following year, sometimes as late as 15 May. That is a meaningful extension if your affairs are complex or life got in the way.

The critical catch: you must engage the agent and be on their books before 31 October. Miss that without registering and you lose the extension and are treated as a late self-lodger. Tax agent fees are also generally deductible in the year you pay them (so you claim it on your next return). You can check an agent is registered on the Tax Practitioners Board register.

When you pay tax you owe🔗

A point that surprises people: lodging earlier does not bring your payment date forward. If you self-lodge by 31 October and you owe tax, payment is not due until 21 November, whether you lodged on 1 July or 31 October. Via a tax agent, the payment date follows their schedule.

One change worth noting: from 1 July 2025 the General Interest Charge is no longer tax deductible, so paying on time matters more than it used to. And if you are owed a refund, waiting until late July costs you nothing: see how long a tax refund takes.

❓ Frequently asked questions🔗

Keep reading🔗

• How to lodge your tax return (step by step)
• How long does a tax refund take?
• Tax return deadline: key dates and penalties
• ATO tax return audit red flags

The bottom line🔗

Yes, you can lodge from 1 July, but the smart money waits until late July, when your income statement says "Tax ready" and pre-fill is complete. There is no financial upside to rushing, and a clean, accurate return beats a fast one that needs amending. Note the 31 October deadline, and if you want more time, get onto a tax agent before then.