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What to do at tax time

Most people need to lodge a tax return or a non-lodgment advice before 31 October each year.

Watch out for scams and identity theft, these can increase during tax time.

Decide if you need to lodge a tax return

If you’re unsure if you need to lodge a tax return, you can check using the Do I need to lodge a tax return? tool on the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website.

Wait until late July for your information to pre-fill

Wait until the ATO pre-fills income and other information into your tax return for you. This saves you time and helps you get it right. Find out more about pre-fill availability on the ATO website.

If you need to lodge a tax return

Before you lodge, you should find out what information you need when lodging. Find out more about what information you need to lodge on your tax return on the ATO website.

Lodging online through myGov

Follow these steps:

  1. Sign in to myGov.
  2. Select Australian Taxation Office from your linked services.
  3. Select Tax from the menu or tab, then Lodgments and then Income tax.
  4. You can now view the tax returns you need to lodge.

You’ll need to link the ATO to your myGov account, if you haven’t already.

You may be eligible to get help lodging your tax return through:

  • the ATO’s free Tax Help program
  • National Tax Clinics that help some people who can’t afford professional help
  • a registered tax agent, who you pay to help with your tax return.

Find out if you're eligible for Tax Help or National Tax Clinics on the ATO website. You can find a registered tax agent on the Tax Practitioners Board website.

If you can’t lodge online

Find out more about lodgment options on the ATO website.

If you lodge a tax return, your income information will be sent to Services Australia to balance your Family Tax Benefit (FTB) and Child Care Subsidy (CCS). Find out about balancing your Family Tax Benefit or Child Care Subsidy on the Services Australia website.

If you have a child support assessment, Services Australia will also use your tax return to help work out your child support assessment. Find out more about tax time if you pay or receive child support on the Services Australia website.

If you don't need to lodge a tax return

If you don’t need to lodge a tax return you still need to submit a non-lodgment advice to the ATO.

Follow these steps:

  1. Sign in to myGov.
  2. Select Australian Taxation Office from your linked services.
  3. Select Tax from the menu or tab, then Lodgments, and then Non-lodgment advice.

You’ll need to link ATO to your myGov account, if you haven’t already.

You need to advise Services Australia that you or your partner don’t need to lodge a tax return. You need to do this even if you had no income or you’ve already told the ATO you don’t need to lodge.

You can do this using:

Find out more about advising non-lodgment of a tax return for Family Tax Benefit or Child Care Subsidy on the Services Australia website.

You need to confirm with Services Australia your income each year if you pay or receive child support. You need to do this even if you had no income or you’ve already told the ATO you don’t need to lodge.

You can do this using:
Next:
After you lodge your tax return
Page last updated: 30 June 2026