How do you lodge Australian tax returns via myTax? A beginner's guide

By FastBuySale Newsroom · 5 Nov 2026 · 14m ago

How to access myTax

Australian tax returns via myTax are the ATO's free online way to prepare and lodge your own return. The short answer: you create a myGov account, link it to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), open myTax, check the information the ATO has pre-filled, add anything missing, and lodge by 31 October.

myTax runs inside the ATO's online services, which you reach through myGov or the ATO app. There is no software to download, and the ATO says it is available to all individuals and sole traders who want to lodge their own tax return, on a computer, smartphone or tablet.

You need a myGov account with an active link to the ATO. The ATO's steps are: sign in to your myGov account, select ATO from your linked services, then select Manage tax returns from the Quick link. You can also log in to the ATO's online services for individuals using the ATO app.

Linking requires proving your identity to the ATO, so allow time to do this before you plan to lodge, especially the first year. Once linked, the same account lets you see your tax records, super details and any debts.

With myTax you can lodge a tax return from the 2016 income year onwards, lodge your 2014 and 2015 returns if eligible, tell the ATO if you don't need to lodge (a non-lodgment advice), review and print your return before or after lodging, and see an estimate and breakdown of your refund or debt before you submit.

After you lodge, the ATO says you will receive a lodgment receipt by email confirming it has your return.

Readers evaluating myTax should separate marketing claims from the actual rule text that governs their account or product. When two summaries disagree, the governing document or statute wins. If a rule depends on your age, filing status, or income band, re-check it when any of those facts change. Life events quietly move people across thresholds they last reviewed years earlier.

Educational explainers like this one cannot replace personalized advice for complex situations such as divorce orders, inherited accounts, or cross-border tax residency. Escalate those cases to a qualified professional. When in doubt about a number that changes every year, describe your plan qualitatively first, then look up the current official figure for the tax year you care about before you act.

What to prepare before you start

Your tax return covers the income year from 1 July to 30 June. The ATO recommends having your bank account details (BSB and account number), income statements or payment summaries from all employers, payment summaries from Centrelink (Services Australia), receipts or statements for deductions, your spouse's income if you have one, and your private health insurance information if you have cover.

Most of this is pre-filled when you use myTax, but pre-filled does not mean complete. Check every figure against your own records, and add income the ATO may not know about, such as cash jobs, side hustles, overseas income or some investment income.

Deductions are your responsibility. You can use the myDeductions tool in the ATO app to keep copies of records during the year and upload them to pre-fill your return. Only claim expenses you can support with records.

A practical tip: waiting until late July or later gives employers, banks and health funds time to report, so your pre-fill is more complete and you are less likely to need an amendment. If you sell items or run a small side business through marketplaces, keep a simple log of sales and costs through the year, and our calculators at can help you budget for tax.

A useful habit is to write down your goal, time horizon, and cash buffer before you change any election related to myTax. Decisions made during a stressful week are the ones people reverse later at a cost. Educational explainers like this one cannot replace personalized advice for complex situations such as divorce orders, inherited accounts, or cross-border tax residency. Escalate those cases to a qualified professional.

Compare fees the same way you would compare two similar listings before you buy: look at what you pay each year, what you get, and whether a simpler option meets the same need. Readers evaluating myTax should separate marketing claims from the actual rule text that governs their account or product. When two summaries disagree, the governing document or statute wins.

Key dates: lodging and paying

If you're lodging your own tax return, the ATO says you need to lodge it by 31 October each year. If 31 October falls on a weekend, the due date is the next business day.

If you use a registered tax agent instead, they generally have special lodgment schedules and can lodge later than 31 October, but you need to engage them before 31 October. Registered tax agents are the only people who can charge a fee to prepare and lodge your return, and they must be registered with the Tax Practitioners Board.

If you lodge your own return between 1 July and 31 October and it results in a tax bill, payment is due by 21 November. If the assessment issues after 31 October, payment is due 21 days after the assessment is issued. The ATO notes that interest can apply to any amount you owe after 21 November.

If you can't lodge on time, the ATO's advice is to contact it as soon as possible, and if you miss the due date, to lodge as soon as you can. If paying is hard, you may be eligible to set up your own payment plan.

Keep digital and paper copies of confirmations after every change. Screenshots of election pages, email receipts, and year-end statements make tax season and job changes far less chaotic. Compare fees the same way you would compare two similar listings before you buy: look at what you pay each year, what you get, and whether a simpler option meets the same need.

After you lodge: refunds, bills and common issues

The ATO says you'll generally get your refund within 2 weeks when you lodge with myTax. Refunds go to the bank account in your return, so double-check the BSB and account number before you submit.

The estimate myTax shows before lodging is useful for planning. If it shows a debt, set the money aside so you can pay by the due date. If your return includes a study loan, the Medicare levy or capital gains, those are worked out as part of the assessment, and our guides at and explain how.

Common beginner mistakes include lodging too early before pre-fill is complete, forgetting to include income from a second job or bank interest, and claiming deductions without records. If you find an error after lodging, you can amend your return through the ATO's online services.

Next steps: link your myGov account to the ATO, gather your records, wait for pre-fill, review carefully and lodge by 31 October. More Australian money explainers are at and and you can plan savings goals with

Found this myTax explainer useful? Share it with a friend, tell us what we missed in the comments, and get the FastBuySale app on Google Play () for more guides. Have something to sell? Post a free listing at in a couple of minutes.

If a rule depends on your age, filing status, or income band, re-check it when any of those facts change. Life events quietly move people across thresholds they last reviewed years earlier. Automation helps. Calendar reminders for annual reviews, automatic transfers, and beneficiary checkups reduce the chance that a good plan dies from neglect.

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