When to Lodge Your Tax Return ?
- admin928749
- Jul 24
- 2 min read
Good news for millions of Aussies — the Australian Tax Office (ATO) says it’s finally go-time for tax returns, especially if your finances are pretty straightforward.
Now that we’re nearly a month into the 2025/26 financial year, most people with “simple affairs” (think salary, wages, interest) will find that their info is already pre-filled in MyGov, making the process super easy.
ATO Assistant Commissioner Rob Thomson confirmed that over 91 million pieces of data — from banks, employers, Centrelink, health insurers, and more — have now been loaded in.
That means your income statements should be marked “tax ready”.
So, what does this mean for you?
"You’re good to go!" says Thomson. Whether you're using a tax agent or lodging yourself via myTax, most of the data you need is now right there waiting for you.
But a quick heads-up: make sure you double-check everything. If you’ve got a side hustle, ride-share gig, or make cash through apps, you’ll need to add that income yourself — it might not be in the pre-fill.
The ATO also has 40+ occupation-specific guides to help you figure out what you can claim and what records you’ll need to back it up.
Refunds, deadlines, and staying safe
Most refunds will land in your account within two weeks, and you’ve got until October 31 to lodge — or longer if you’re using a registered tax agent.
Worried about security? The ATO has added some serious protection features to its app. Now you’ll get real-time alerts if anything changes on your account, and you can lock it down instantly if you suspect something dodgy.
“These updates give you peace of mind,” Thomson said. “You stay in control of your tax affairs, anytime, anywhere.”
The "sweet spot" to lodge?
Some tax experts say now’s great — but waiting a little longer could be even better. H&R Block’s Mark Chapman recommends the mid-July to mid-August window, especially if you’re hoping for a refund.
And CA ANZ’s Susan Franks agrees: “If you just earn salary or wages and interest, then lodging in August is probably your safest bet.”
For those with more complicated returns or if you're expecting a tax bill, experts suggest waiting until closer to the October 31 deadline to give yourself time to prepare — or save up if needed.
Stay tuned with Aus News Lanka – the leading platform for news for Australians.
