Tax return due Monday 2 November: your last-minute checklist

The 2025–26 tax return deadline is days away. If you haven't lodged yet, you're not alone: in late October the ATO said around 2 million people were still to lodge. Here's exactly what to do this week, whether you lodge yourself or want a tax agent to give you more time.

The dates that matter this week

The agent deadline isn't moved to the next business day. To use an agent's dates, you need to be on their list by Saturday, so contact a registered agent before then.

Your last-minute lodgment checklist

1. Log in to myGov and open ATO online services. Most of your income information is pre-filled.
2. Check your income against payslips and statements: wages, bank interest, dividends, rent, side gigs, and capital gains from shares, property or crypto.
3. Add income that isn't pre-filled, such as cash jobs, platform income or overseas income.
4. Claim deductions you can prove: work-from-home at 70 cents an hour with a record of hours, work tools, union fees, donations and the cost of managing your tax.
5. Check private health insurance details, so you don't get an unexpected Medicare levy surcharge.
6. Review before you submit. Don't guess or round up. Wrong claims can delay your refund and lead to penalties.

Need more time? Use a registered tax agent

If you can't lodge by Monday, the simplest option is to register with a registered tax agent by Saturday 31 October. Once you're on their client list, most people have until 15 May 2027 to lodge, as long as earlier returns are up to date.

An agent also checks your claims, deals with the ATO for you, and their fee is generally tax deductible next year. Make sure your agent is registered with the Tax Practitioners Board. See our guide to checking your tax preparer is registered.

What happens if you miss the deadline

• Failure-to-lodge penalty: the ATO can apply one penalty unit for each 28 days your return is late, up to five units. Reports put the maximum for individuals at about $1,820.
• Interest on tax owed: if you owe tax, the general interest charge runs from the due date, and it is no longer tax deductible.
• Often no penalty for refunds: the ATO generally doesn't apply a failure-to-lodge penalty for an isolated late return that results in a refund. But you're waiting longer for your money.
• Repeated late lodgment is treated more seriously, and the ATO can take further action.

If something serious stopped you lodging, such as illness, a death in the family or a natural disaster, tell the ATO when you lodge. It can consider a reasonable excuse and reduce or remit penalties.

If you can't pay your tax bill

Lodge on time anyway. Failing to lodge and failing to pay are separate problems, and lodging late only adds to the cost. Once you've lodged, you can usually set up a payment plan online if you owe $200,000 or less. Interest still applies, so pay what you can as soon as you can.

Supertax is a registered tax agent in Werribee. Contact us before Saturday 31 October and we'll add you to our client list, check your deductions and lodge under our agent dates. See our pricing, or book a free 15-minute consultation. Consultations are available in English, Punjabi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ), Hindi (हिंदी), Urdu (اردو) and Gujarati (ગુજરાતી).

This article contains general information only and does not take your personal circumstances into account. Speak with a registered tax agent before acting.