Tax time 2026: when you can lodge and what to know
Lodgement for tax time 2026 opens from 1 July, but the ATO suggests waiting until late July when your pre-fill is finalised. Here are the dates and the reasons behind them.
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Articles tagged ATO
Tax in Australia: the complete 2026 guide
Tax is the biggest single deduction from most Australians' income, and the rules are more learnable than they look. This guide maps the brackets, the thresholds, what you can claim, and how to lodge, each section links to a full breakdown.
Tax refunds in Australia: why you get one and how to boost it
A tax refund is not a windfall, it is your own money coming back. Here is why you get one, how to grow it the honest way, and when a big refund is a warning sign.
When is your tax return due in Australia?
If you lodge your own return, the deadline is 31 October. Use a registered tax agent on time and you usually get longer. Here is what that means for you.
Working from home tax deductions in Australia (2026)
There are two ways to claim a work from home tax deduction in Australia: the fixed-rate method and the actual-cost method. Here is how each one works, what it covers and the records you need.
Tax deductions in Australia: what you can actually claim
Tax deductions only work if the expense earned your income, you paid for it yourself, and you kept a record. Here is what you can claim and what the ATO will quietly reject.
Australian tax brackets for 2026, explained
Australia's tax brackets are marginal, which means each rate applies only to the income inside its band, not your whole pay. Here are the 2026 resident rates, the Medicare levy, and why a pay rise into a higher bracket will not tax everything you earn.
The tax-free threshold in Australia: what it is and how to claim it
The tax-free threshold is the first $18,200 you can earn each year without paying income tax. Claim it with one employer, usually your main job, and you keep more of each pay. Here is how it works and the second-job trap to avoid.
How to do your tax return in Australia (2026)
Doing your tax return in Australia comes down to lodging by 31 October, gathering your income and deductions, and choosing between myTax or a registered agent. Here is the simple version.
One in ten: what the hospitality closure numbers are actually telling us
Over the twelve months to November 2025, one in ten Australian cafes, restaurants, and takeaways shut their doors. Three operators on why the aggregate number doesn't capture the mechanism.
The letter that makes tax debt personal: inside the DPN wave
The ATO's Director Penalty Notice programme has moved from a dormant instrument to a core collection tool. For directors whose companies carry pandemic-era tax debt, the consequences have stopped being corporate.