1. Use the correct financial year
The Australian financial year runs from 1 July to 30 June. For a 2025–26 return, include income and eligible expenses for 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026. Do not use a calendar-year total or mix this year’s wages with last year’s tax withheld.
2. Get your income statements
Sign in to myGov and open the linked ATO service. Check every employer’s income statement is marked tax ready. Use gross income and tax withheld, not the amount deposited into your bank. Add any other income that belongs on the return, such as bank interest.
3. Prepare your claims
Match receipts and work-use calculations to the deductions you claim. Keep a single total for each expense even if it served two jobs. Check allowances separately: receiving an allowance is not the same as being reimbursed, and it does not create an automatic deduction.
4. Complete and review myTax
In ATO online services, select the relevant return and review the pre-filled information. Confirm residency, visa-related questions, Medicare and any loan details. Add missing income and eligible deductions, then review the estimate and declaration before submitting. This website does not lodge your return.
5. Keep the outcome
Save your notice of assessment and supporting records. The usual self-lodgment deadline is 31 October after the financial year ends. Tax-agent schedules can differ; arrange an agent before the deadline rather than assuming an extension. An ATO debt can affect whether a refund is paid to you.