Document text
Tax return checklist 2025–26
Everything to gather before you lodge, a working-from-home log and a refund estimate
Name: [YOUR NAME]
Income year: 1 July 2025 – 30 June 2026
Lodging with: [MYTAX / TAX AGENT NAME]
Key dates
What Date
Lodge your own return (myTax or paper) 31 October — in 2026 by 11:59 pm Monday 2 November (31 October is a Saturday)
Using a registered tax agent Book them (be on their client list) before 31 October; they can lodge later
Tax bill, if you lodged yourself on time 21 November 2026
Refund after online lodgment Most returns lodged online process within 12 business days
Before you start
☐ myGov account linked to the ATO
☐ Bank BSB and account number for the refund
☐ Income statement shows 'Tax ready' for every employer
☐ Private health insurance statement (if you have cover)
☐ Spouse's taxable income (if you have a spouse)
☐ Last year's notice of assessment
Income — tick what applies to you
Income Where to find it ☐
Salary and wages Income statement in myGov (marked 'Tax ready') ☐
Allowances, bonuses, tips Income statement, payslips ☐
Interest from bank accounts Bank statements; most banks pre-fill by late July ☐
Dividends and distributions Dividend statements, managed fund tax statements ☐
Centrelink payments Payment summary from Services Australia ☐
Rental property income Property manager's annual statement ☐
Side income, gig work, sharing economy Platform statements, your own records ☐
Capital gains (shares, crypto, property sold) Sale contracts, broker statements ☐
Foreign income Overseas payslips or statements ☐
Deductions — keep a record for each
Deduction What to keep ☐
Working from home — fixed rate Record of all hours worked at home (timesheet, diary, roster) ☐
Car expenses for work travel (not home to work) Logbook or record of work kilometres ☐
Uniforms, protective clothing, laundry Receipts; compulsory or protective clothing only ☐
Tools and equipment Receipts; over $300 is claimed over its effective life ☐
Self-education linked to your current job Course fees, textbooks, receipts ☐
Union and professional membership fees Annual statement ☐
Gifts and donations to DGRs ($2 or more) Receipts from deductible gift recipients ☐
Cost of managing tax affairs Last year's tax agent invoice ☐
Income protection insurance (outside super) Annual statement from the insurer ☐
You can only claim what you spent yourself, that relates to earning your income, and that you can prove. Working from home with the fixed rate: 70 cents for each hour worked at home in 2025–26 covers internet, phone, electricity and gas, stationery and ink — no separate claim for those.
Refund estimate
Line Amount
Salary, wages and other income A$ [AMOUNT]
Working from home: [HOURS] hours × 70c A$ [AMOUNT]
Other deductions A$ [AMOUNT]
Taxable income A$ [AMOUNT]
Tax (resident rates 2025–26) A$ [AMOUNT]
Less low income tax offset A$ [AMOUNT]
Plus Medicare levy (2%) A$ [AMOUNT]
Estimated tax for the year A$ [AMOUNT]
Tax withheld by employers A$ [AMOUNT]
Estimated refund (+) or bill (−) A$ [AMOUNT]
Working from home — hours log
Write the hours each week (or keep your employer's timesheets). The total goes into the estimate above.
Month Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4+ Hours
July 2025 [HOURS] [HOURS] [HOURS] [HOURS] [TOTAL]
August 2025 [HOURS] [HOURS] [HOURS] [HOURS] [TOTAL]
September 2025 [HOURS] [HOURS] [HOURS] [HOURS] [TOTAL]
October 2025 [HOURS] [HOURS] [HOURS] [HOURS] [TOTAL]
November 2025 [HOURS] [HOURS] [HOURS] [HOURS] [TOTAL]
December 2025 [HOURS] [HOURS] [HOURS] [HOURS] [TOTAL]
January 2026 [HOURS] [HOURS] [HOURS] [HOURS] [TOTAL]
February 2026 [HOURS] [HOURS] [HOURS] [HOURS] [TOTAL]
March 2026 [HOURS] [HOURS] [HOURS] [HOURS] [TOTAL]
April 2026 [HOURS] [HOURS] [HOURS] [HOURS] [TOTAL]
May 2026 [HOURS] [HOURS] [HOURS] [HOURS] [TOTAL]
June 2026 [HOURS] [HOURS] [HOURS] [HOURS] [TOTAL]
Total [TOTAL HOURS]
Notes for next year
[NOTE]
[NOTE]
[NOTE]
ATO rates for 2025–26: resident tax rates, LITO, Medicare levy 2% with the low-income reduction for singles (lower threshold $28,011), working from home fixed rate 70c per hour. An estimate, not a notice of assessment and not tax advice: it leaves out the private health insurance rebate, HELP/TSL repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, family thresholds and other offsets.