Tax Return Due 31 October: A Self-Lodger's Checklist (Australia)
If you lodge your own tax return in Australia, the usual deadline is 31 October for the financial year that ended on 30 June. If you use a registered tax agent and you're on their client list before 31 October, you may have a later lodgement date. This guide is for self-lodgers who want to get it done calmly.
This is general information only, not tax advice. Always check ato.gov.au or a registered tax agent for your situation.
Step 1: Check what's already in myTax
If you lodge online through myGov, much of your information is pre-filled. That can include income from employers, bank interest, some government payments, and private health insurance details. Pre-fill is helpful but not always complete, so treat it as a starting point and check it against your own records.
Check your income statement shows as "tax ready" before lodging. If it doesn't, your employer may not have finalised it yet.
Step 2: Gather your documents
Pull together:
- Income statements from every employer
- Bank interest and any dividend statements
- Records of other income: side gigs, freelance work, rental income
- Receipts for work-related expenses you plan to claim
- Donation receipts for registered charities
- Private health insurance statement
- Records of work-from-home hours if you're claiming those costs
A shoebox works, but a simple spreadsheet you fill in through the year makes next year far easier.
Step 3: Work-related deductions, the basics
The ATO's general rules for claiming a work-related expense are that you must have spent the money yourself and not been reimbursed, it must relate directly to earning your income, and you need a record to prove it. If an expense is for both work and private use, you can only claim the work part.
Common areas people check:
- Working from home running costs
- Work-related phone and internet use
- Tools, equipment and protective clothing
- Self-education directly related to your current job
- Union fees and professional memberships
Check the ATO's occupation guides for your type of work; they're a good reality check on what is and isn't claimable.
Step 4: Side hustle income counts
If you sell on Etsy, do freelance work, drive for a platform or have any income outside your job, it generally needs to be declared. If you're running it as a business, you may also be able to claim business expenses against it. Keep records of every sale and expense through the year. Our sole trader tax time checklist goes into more detail.
Step 5: Check before you hit lodge
- Is all your income included, including bank interest?
- Do you have a record for every deduction?
- Have you only claimed the work-related portion of mixed-use items?
- Is your bank account correct for any refund?
- Are your contact details current?
What if you can't make 31 October?
Don't panic, and don't ignore it. You have options:
- **Contact a registered tax agent before 31 October.** If they add you to their client list in time, you may get a later lodgement date.
- **Contact the ATO** if you're having genuine difficulty. They can talk you through options.
- **Lodge as soon as you can.** Penalties for late lodgement can apply, and lodging late can delay any refund owed to you.
Set yourself up for next year
The easiest tax time is the one you prepare for in July, not October. A few habits:
- Save receipts as photos straight away into one folder
- Keep a simple log of work-from-home hours
- Record side-income sales and expenses monthly
- Put a reminder in your calendar for early July
If you run a side business, set aside a portion of each payment for tax in a separate account so the bill isn't a shock.
Tools that help
The Australian Tax Time Bundle is a set of five record-keeping trackers for income, expenses, GST and BAS records. The Sole Trader Income & Expense Spreadsheet is a simpler single sheet, and the Sole Trader Tax & BAS Dashboard is a browser app that keeps it all on your device. See also our sole trader tax tracker guide. These are record-keeping tools, not tax advice.
Mistakes the ATO commonly flags
The ATO regularly publishes areas where it sees mistakes. Some that come up often for everyday taxpayers:
- **Forgetting income**, especially bank interest, side income or income from a second job.
- **Claiming private expenses**, like everyday clothing or normal travel between home and work, which generally aren't deductible.
- **Claiming without records**, or claiming the full cost of something used partly for personal purposes.
- **Copying last year's deductions** without checking whether your work situation is the same.
If you're unsure whether something is claimable, check the ATO website or ask a registered tax agent. Getting it right first time is much easier than fixing it later.
Women, part-time work and tax time
Many Aussie women juggle part-time work, casual shifts, a side hustle or a career break. A few things worth checking at tax time:
- If you had more than one job, make sure each employer's income statement is included.
- If you returned from parental leave, check any government payments are included in your return.
- If you started a small business from home, keep business records separate from household spending from day one.
- Check your super. Your employer's super contributions should show on your income statement and in your super fund account. If anything looks wrong, contact your employer or fund.
A 15-minute plan for tonight
If the deadline is looming and you feel overwhelmed, do just this tonight: log into myGov, open myTax, and check what's pre-filled. Make a list of anything missing. Tomorrow, find those documents. The day after, add your deductions with records and lodge. Breaking it into three small sessions is far easier than one big one.
Refunds and bills: what happens after you lodge
After you lodge, the ATO processes your return and issues a notice of assessment. If you're due a refund it's paid into the bank account you nominated. If you owe tax, the notice will show the amount and due date. If you can't pay in full, the ATO has payment plan options, so contact them rather than ignoring the bill. Keep your notice of assessment with your records.
Keep records sorted all year
See the Australian Tax Time Bundle, the Sole Trader Income & Expense Spreadsheet, or the Sole Trader Tax & BAS Dashboard app.
FAQ
When is the tax return deadline in Australia?
For people who lodge their own return, it's usually 31 October for the financial year ending 30 June. If you use a registered tax agent and are on their list before 31 October, you may have a later date.
What happens if I lodge my tax return late?
Penalties can apply and any refund may be delayed. If you're running late, contact a registered tax agent before 31 October or contact the ATO to discuss your options.
Do I need to declare Etsy or side hustle income?
Generally yes. Income from side work usually needs to be declared. Check the ATO's guidance on hobbies versus businesses for your situation.
What records do I need for deductions?
You generally need a record of the expense, such as a receipt, and it must relate directly to earning your income. Only the work-related portion of mixed-use items can be claimed.
General information only, not financial or tax advice. Check ato.gov.au or a registered tax agent for your situation.