The key Australian tax deadlines you need to know

Every year millions of residents and non-residents in Australia are required to submit a tax return to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), either by themselves or through a registered tax agent.

As of the end of April, the ATO reported that it had received more than 14.1 million tax returns from individuals for the 2023-24 financial year.

Roughly six million of those were self-lodged, while eight million were done with the help of a tax agent.

Let's face it though, preparing a tax return can be a frustrating and sometimes confusing process, but knowing the key dates involved can help.

So read on for a run through of the major tax dates and deadlines in Australia that you'll need to know about, as well as answers to some other commonly-asked tax questions.

Key dates for 2025

• June 30: Last day of the financial year
• July 1: Taxpayers can start to prepare and lodge their tax returns
• July 14: Final date for most employers to lodge their income statement data
• October 31: Lodgement deadline for individuals preparing their own tax returns

When can I lodge a 2025 tax return in Australia?

The 2024-25 financial year ends on June 30, which means that tax season in Australia officially starts on July 1. That's when taxpayers can, in theory, begin lodging their tax returns.

Although it can be tempting for people to get cracking on their tax return straight away if they're doing it themselves - especially if they're expecting a refund - the ATO generally recommends waiting.

That's because it typically takes a couple of weeks or longer for income statements to be marked as 'tax ready' by employers. So jumping the gun and lodging it before that's done could result in someone having to amend their return.

"We know doing your tax return is something to tick off your to-do list each year, but there's no need to rush. The best time to lodge is from late July once everything is ready," says ATO assistant commissioner, Rob Thomson.

What is the due date to submit a 2025 tax return?

While tax returns can be lodged from July onwards, the critical date for individual taxpayers to circle in their calendars is actually October 31.

For anyone preparing their own tax return, this is the date that it will need to be lodged before.

People lodging their return with the help of a registered tax agent will also need to have engaged the agent before that date, though agents have more flexibility when it comes to when they actually need to submit a return for their clients.

What happens if I miss the October 31 tax deadline?

If, for whatever reason, you're unable to lodge your tax return by October 31, the tax office recommends getting in contact with them as early as possible to work out a solution.

Not lodging a return before the deadline could result in a fine (starting from $330), or even firmer action from the ATO like a default assessment penalty or even prosecution.

What are the tax rates for 2024-25?

For the 2024-25 and 2025-26 financial years, Australian residents fall into one of five income brackets (including the tax-free bracket), each with their own tax rate.

However, from July 1 next year a new income tax rate of 15% will come into effect for the $18,201-$45,000 bracket. This will apply across the 2026-27 financial year.

The rate will then be dropped again to 14% for the 2027-28 financial year.

How long will it take for my 2025 tax return to be processed?

Most tax returns that are lodged online take less than two weeks to process, according to the ATO, although it could take longer if any manual checking needs to be done.

It's also possible to check the status of the return as it's being processed via the ATO's app, through the myGov portal, or by checking in with your tax agent if you've used one.

If you're due a refund and you've already provided your bank account details to the ATO then the money will be transferred directly into your nominated account. If you have a tax bill you'll be provided with a payment due date on your notice of assessment.

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