About 9 million 2025-26 returns have already been lodged

Self-preparers have until 11:59PM local time on Monday 2 November 2026 to lodge their 2025-26 individual income tax returns on time.

About 9 million 2025-26 individual income tax returns have already reached the Australian Taxation Office, while around 2 million self-preparers still have not lodged.

ATO Assistant Commissioner Anita Challen said: “Because the 31 October deadline falls on a weekend, taxpayers have a couple of extra days to lodge their return this year, but that doesn’t mean they should leave it to the last minute.”

She warned that rushed lodgments are more likely to contain mistakes or miss important information. Challen also said the ATO has pre-filled most of the information taxpayers need, and taxpayers with straightforward affairs take 8 minutes on average to lodge through myTax.

Common reasons for late or missing lodgments include not realising a return is required, expecting a tax bill, and thinking there is more time.

Some people, including retirees and lower-income earners, may not realise they need to lodge a tax return. Income from events such as selling an investment property can still create lodgment obligations, even after someone has otherwise left the tax system.

If tax was withheld from income from an employer, a person still needs to lodge even below the tax-free threshold, and that could lead to a refund of that tax. Taxpayers can check whether they need to lodge on the ATO website.

Meanwhile, some taxpayers may not need to lodge a tax return if their income is below the tax-free threshold and no tax has been withheld. In those cases, they should submit a non-lodgment advice form.

For self-preparers expecting a bill, delaying a tax return will not change the due date, which is generally 21 November 2026. However, taxpayers who lodge through a registered tax professional may get a later due date.

Lodging on time helps taxpayers understand their tax position and can prevent follow-up action and failure to lodge penalties of up to $1,820.

People experiencing financial difficulty should contact the ATO or their registered tax professional as soon as possible to discuss support options. Keeping records digitally with tools such as the free ATO app can also make tax time easier.

Taxpayers can access trusted information and self-help tools through the ATO app, the ATO website and ATO Community. According to the ATO, these channels make it easier to get answers without calling.

Unregistered preparers trigger ATO warning

Taxpayers who use a tax professional should make sure that person is registered with the Tax Practitioners Board and that they are on the practitioner’s books by 31 October 2026.

Registered tax professionals must also lodge any overdue prior year returns for existing clients and add new clients to their client list by 31 October 2026.

The reminder follows an increase in 2025-26 returns suspected of being prepared by unregistered preparers who charge fees while encouraging false or inflated claims.

So far this tax time, the ATO has stopped over 10,000 returns suspected to be prepared by unregistered preparers. Those stopped returns contained more than $170 million in deduction claims.

Challen said: “Taxpayers should be sceptical of anyone making promises that sound too good to be true. No reputable tax professional will encourage you to inflate your deductions, guarantee a refund amount, or claim they can fast-track ATO processing.”

She also warned that taxpayers make a legal declaration that the information in a return is true and correct. Taxpayers who use an unregistered preparer do not have access to the safe harbour provisions available when using a registered tax professional.

TPB Chair Peter de Cure AM said addressing unregistered preparers is an important compliance priority for the board. He urged taxpayers to look for the Registered tax practitioner symbol and check the TPB Register before engaging a practitioner.

Anyone who suspects unregistered activity can report it to the TPB. Tax time resources are also available in languages other than English, including new content in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.