Community
26 July, 2026
Get it right the first time
THE Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is reminding taxpayers to slow down at the start of tax time, warning that rushing to lodge can lead to delays and amendments.
Taxpayers who lodge as soon as the financial year ticks over risk submitting incomplete and inaccurate returns, which can trigger processing delays and follow up contact from the ATO.
ATO assistant commissioner Anita Challen said taxpayers can save time and effort by waiting until all their pre-fill is available.
“While the ATO welcomes taxpayers’ enthusiasm at the start of tax time, the numbers don’t lie. Lodging too early can create more work for taxpayers,” Ms Challen said.
“Many taxpayers assume getting in first means getting a faster refund, but that is not always the case.
“Early lodgement increases the likelihood of missing information and mistakes being made, which can delay processing and require amendments.”
Ms Challen said while doing a tax return isn’t at the top of most people’s to-do lists, many still rush to get it done.
“It’s worth taking the time to get it right the first time,” she said.
For the quickest and most seamless lodgement experience, Ms Challen encouraged people to wait until late July.
By late July, most pre-fill information is available in returns, including wages, bank interest, government payments and private health insurance details.
“The ATO collects and pre-fills a wide range of information to make tax time easier,” she said.
“Taxpayers simply need to check the information, add in any missing information, including cash income, and eligible deductions.”
The ATO encourages taxpayers to use the time before pre-fill is available to download the ATO app to track their employment income, store expense records, and receive account notifications.
Taxpayers are also encouraged to check their personal information and bank details are up to date and to check the ATO occupation guides to see what deductions they may be eligible to claim.
During the 2024–25 financial year, taxpayers who lodged before pre-fill were more than twice as likely to have their returns amended.
Also during that financial year, the ATO corrected more than 140,000 individual tax returns where discrepancies appeared in employment income, interest, dividends, welfare payments, Medicare levy exemptions and private health insurance.
The ATO’s data matching program also adjusted more than 595,000 individual tax returns due to missing income, overstated deductions and tax credits, and other discrepancies.
The tax office recommends people seek the help and guidance of a professional service where possible.
