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Tax time in Australia comes around every year, but the date you need to lodge your return is not necessarily the same for everyone. Your lodgement method, income situation and whether you use a registered tax agent can all affect the timing.
For Australians preparing their tax return for the 2025–26 financial year, the standard self-lodgement date is particularly important. The usual individual deadline is 31 October. In 2026, however, 31 October falls on a Saturday, so the deadline moves to the next business day, Monday, 2 November 2026.
If you run a business as a sole trader, there are additional records and reporting matters to consider before your individual tax return is completed.
Here is what taxpayers should know about the 2026 tax return timetable.
The 2025–26 financial year finished on 30 June 2026. After the end of the financial year, individuals can prepare and lodge their annual income tax return.
For someone lodging their own return, the normal 31 October deadline applies. Because 31 October 2026 is a Saturday, the applicable deadline moves to 2 November 2026.
This is the key date to remember if you are preparing and submitting your own return.
It is important not to confuse the tax-return lodgement date with the date on which any tax owing must be paid. If your assessment results in an amount payable, the ATO will provide the relevant payment information and due date.
Not necessarily.
The 2 November date is relevant to taxpayers who fall under the standard self-lodgement arrangements. People who lodge through registered tax agents may be covered by the ATO’s tax agent lodgment program.
The date available to you can depend on your circumstances and your lodgment history. Therefore, simply assuming that you have an automatic extension is not a good approach.
If you want a tax agent to handle your return, it is sensible to contact them before the standard deadline. This gives them an opportunity to review your circumstances and confirm the appropriate lodgement arrangements.
For taxpayers with uncomplicated employment income, the process may be relatively straightforward. For someone with business income, investments, rental property or capital gains, more preparation may be required.
Sole traders often search for a separate sole trader tax return due date 2026, but the important distinction is how the business is structured.
A sole trader is not a separate legal entity from the individual operating the business. Business income and relevant business expenses are generally reported in the individual’s income tax return.
Consider a Perth sole trader who provides photography services. During 2025–26, they receive payments from several clients and incur costs for software, advertising, equipment and other business-related expenses.
Those business figures form part of the individual’s overall tax return.
That means preparing for tax time involves more than simply looking at a personal bank account. Business records need to be complete and organised so that income and eligible expenses can be reported correctly.
For people who want assistance with this process, a sole trader accountant perth can help organise the business information required for the annual return.
A common problem is discovering that an important document is missing just when the return is ready to be lodged.
Start by collecting information relevant to your particular circumstances.
This may include:
You may find that some information has already been pre-filled by the ATO. That can save time, but pre-filled information should still be checked against your own records.
For example, if bank interest appears in your return, compare it with your bank information. If employment income is shown, check that the figures correspond with your available records.
A tax return should reflect your actual financial circumstances rather than simply accepting every pre-filled figure without checking it.
The annual tax return is also a good opportunity for sole traders to review the quality of their bookkeeping.
Start with the money received by the business. Make sure customer payments, platform income and other business receipts have been captured.
Then review expenses.
An expense being paid from a business account does not automatically mean the entire amount is deductible. Private and business use may need to be separated, depending on the nature of the expense.
For example, if a sole trader uses a vehicle for both personal and business purposes, the business-related portion needs to be considered under the applicable rules rather than automatically claiming every vehicle cost.
The same principle can apply to phones, internet, home-office costs and other mixed-use expenses.
Good records make these calculations easier and provide evidence for amounts included in the return.
Sole traders who are registered for GST may also have BAS responsibilities during the year.
A BAS and an annual income tax return serve different purposes.
BAS reporting generally deals with matters such as GST and, where applicable, PAYG instalments and other business reporting obligations. The annual income tax return deals with taxable income and allowable deductions for the financial year.
This distinction matters because completing one obligation does not necessarily mean the other has been completed.
A business owner might have lodged their quarterly BAS throughout the year and still need to prepare their annual income tax return after 30 June.
If your bookkeeping and BAS records are not well organised, it can become harder to reconcile the figures used when preparing your annual return.
Sometimes taxpayers miss a deadline because they are waiting for information, have complicated financial affairs or simply overlook the date.
If you realise that your return has not been lodged on time, do not leave it unresolved.
The ATO can apply penalties for late lodgement in applicable circumstances. Where tax remains unpaid, general interest charges may also become relevant.
The appropriate response depends on your circumstances.
Someone who has missed the deadline should first establish what returns are outstanding, gather the necessary information and determine whether there is an amount payable.
If you are unsure about what needs to be done, getting advice from a tax accountant perth can help you understand the next steps.
Doing your own return can be suitable when your tax affairs are relatively simple. However, additional income sources can make the process more complicated.
Professional assistance may be worth considering when your return includes things such as:
For an individual with employment income and straightforward tax affairs, a personal tax accountant perth may provide assistance with preparing and reviewing the annual return.
For a sole trader, the focus may also include business income, expenses and records supporting the figures reported in the individual return.
The value of professional assistance is not simply about submitting a form. It can also involve checking whether the information being reported is complete and supported by appropriate records.
You do not need to wait until October to start getting ready.
A practical approach is to begin with your income information, then organise your expenses and supporting documents. If you have a business, reconcile your bookkeeping records and make sure your BAS information is accounted for.
Next, identify anything that is missing.
If you discover an unexplained transaction, missing receipt or incomplete record early, you have time to investigate it. Waiting until the final week can make even a straightforward issue much more difficult to resolve.
If you use a registered tax agent, provide your records as early as possible so there is enough time to review your circumstances before the relevant lodgement date.
Also read: How Can You Tell If You’re Paying Too Much Tax?
For Australians preparing their 2025–26 tax return, the standard self-lodgement deadline in 2026 is an important date to remember. Because 31 October falls on a Saturday, the deadline moves to Monday, 2 November 2026.
Sole traders should also remember that their business activity is generally reported through their individual tax return. Their preparation therefore needs to include business income, expenses and relevant records, as well as their other personal tax information.
The easiest way to avoid last-minute tax problems is to start early. Gather your documents, check your income, review your expenses and make sure your records tell the same story as the figures you intend to report.
If your circumstances are more involved, getting professional advice before the deadline can give you time to identify and address issues rather than discovering them when the return is ready to lodge.
The standard deadline for taxpayers lodging their own tax return is generally 31 October. If the deadline falls on a weekend or public holiday, the next business day may apply.
Not necessarily. Your lodgment date can depend on your circumstances, whether you use a registered tax agent, and your lodgment history.
Depending on your circumstances, you may have different lodgment arrangements. If you are unsure, speak with a registered tax agent or check the ATO’s current guidance.
Missing a lodgment deadline can result in follow-up action from the ATO and, in some circumstances, penalties. If you are already overdue, it is generally better to lodge as soon as possible.
Registered tax agents may have access to the ATO’s tax agent lodgment program, which can provide different lodgment dates for eligible clients.
No. You can lodge your own return through the ATO, but a registered tax agent can help if your tax affairs involve business income, investments, rental properties, capital gains or other complex matters.
You may need information about your income, deductions, bank interest, investments, private health insurance and other relevant financial details. Keeping receipts and supporting records can also help.