The financial year ends on 30 June and the deadline to lodge yourself is 31 October. Here's the timing that matters and the traps that catch early birds.
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By the Nomo team · Last reviewed 26 September 2026
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 30 June | The financial year ends |
| By 14 July | Employers finalise your income statement, and it shows as tax ready |
| Late July | Most prefill from banks, health funds and government agencies is in |
| 31 October | Deadline if you lodge yourself through myTax |
| Later | If a registered tax agent lodges for you and you're on their client list by 31 October |
For the 2025–26 year, that's 31 October 2026.
Employers, banks, health funds and government agencies send your information to the ATO through July. Lodge in the first days and you're typing in numbers the ATO doesn't have yet, and the ATO says people who lodge in early July are twice as likely to make a mistake. Get one wrong and you're amending your return later, or paying back part of a refund.
Waiting until late July, when your income statement is tax ready and prefill is in, makes lodging faster and safer.
Only registered tax agents can charge a fee to prepare or lodge a tax return. Check an agent's registration on the Tax Practitioners Board register.
If your records lived in a shoebox all year, this is where it shows. See receipts and record keeping and the tax deduction checklist.
From the 2026–27 return, lodged from July 2027, eligible employees get a standard deduction of up to $1,000 for work expenses. If your actual work expenses are higher, you can claim those instead, with records for all of them. For 2025–26 returns, you claim your work expenses as before. How the $1,000 standard deduction works.
Most returns lodged online are processed within two weeks, and you get a notice of assessment with the final numbers. You can check progress in myTax or the ATO app.
If you find a mistake, you can amend your return online, generally within two years of your notice of assessment. Keep your records for five years from when you lodge.
Lodge as soon as you can, or contact a registered tax agent before 31 October. The ATO can apply a failure to lodge penalty to overdue returns, but it usually contacts you first. If something is stopping you from lodging, talk to the ATO early.
The hardest part of tax time is reconstructing a year of deductions. Nomo does that part as you go: every trip, receipt and work from home hour, in one report that's ready for myTax or your accountant. Nomo is an Australian tax deduction and mileage/work kilometre tracking app for PAYG employees and sole traders.
Found so far this year, across trips and expenses.
Work trips with the date and kilometres.
Work from home hours, logged as you go.
See the tax deduction tracker.
31 October if you lodge yourself. For the 2025–26 year, that's 31 October 2026. A registered tax agent may have later due dates if you're on their client list by 31 October.
Late July or later, once your income statement is tax ready and prefill is complete. Lodging in early July makes mistakes more likely.
Most returns lodged online are processed within two weeks. Some take longer if they need checking.
Yes. You can amend your return online, generally within two years of your notice of assessment.
The ATO can apply a failure to lodge penalty, though it usually contacts you first. Lodge as soon as you can, or talk to a registered tax agent.
Yes, the cost of managing your tax affairs is deductible in the year you pay it, and it's claimed on top of the $1,000 standard deduction.
Tax time, without the shoebox.
Trips, receipts and home hours kept all year. 14 days free, no card needed.
Start 14-day free trialBy the Nomo team · Last reviewed 26 September 2026. We check these pages against current ATO guidance and update them when the rules change.
General information only, not tax advice. Rules change and everyone’s situation is different, so check ato.gov.au or talk to a registered tax agent about your situation. Nomo is a record keeping app, not a registered tax agent.