Every July I get the same question from working holiday friends: do I actually need to do a tax return here? Almost always, yes — and it is usually money back in your pocket, not out of it.
Quick answer: If you earned any income in Australia this financial year, lodge a tax return between 1 July and 31 October 2026 via myGov/myTax. Most working holiday makers get a partial refund since tax is withheld from every payslip.
The Key Dates
Australia’s financial year runs from 1 July to 30 June. Once it ends, the window to lodge your return for that year opens.
- Lodgement opens: 1 July 2026
- Deadline if lodging yourself: 31 October 2026 (since this falls on a Saturday in 2026, the effective deadline shifts to the next business day)
- Deadline if using a registered tax agent: can extend to as late as 15 May 2027 — but you must be registered as their client before 31 October 2026 for this to apply
Do You Actually Need to Lodge?
You generally need to lodge a tax return if you earned income in Australia during the financial year — this includes wages from casual, part-time, or working holiday jobs. Even if your total income was below the tax-free threshold of $18,200, it’s often worth lodging anyway if any tax was withheld from your pay, since lodging is the only way to get that money back as a refund.
If you genuinely had no income and don’t need to lodge, you should still submit a Non-Lodgement Advice to let the ATO know, rather than simply doing nothing.
Why Waiting Until Late July Is Actually Smart
You can lodge from 1 July, but most tax professionals recommend waiting a few weeks. That’s because the ATO pre-fills much of your tax return using data from employers, banks, and health funds — but this data typically isn’t fully available until mid-to-late July. Lodging too early risks submitting with incomplete or inaccurate pre-filled information, which can delay your refund or trigger a review.
How to Lodge It Yourself
- Log into myGov and ensure it is linked to the ATO
- Select myTax and choose the relevant financial year
- Review the pre-filled income data (from your employer, bank interest, etc.)
- Add any income not automatically pre-filled
- Claim eligible deductions (work-related expenses, home office costs, etc. — only claim what you actually spent and can prove)
- Double-check your bank details for the refund, then submit
What You’ll Need
- Income statements from any employer (usually already linked via myGov)
- Bank interest and dividend statements
- Receipts for any work-related deductions you plan to claim
- Your Tax File Number (TFN)
A Note for Working Holiday Makers
If you’re on a Working Holiday visa, you’re generally taxed differently to Australian residents — working holiday makers are taxed at 15% on income up to a certain threshold, without access to the normal tax-free threshold. Your tax return still works the same way in terms of process, but it’s worth understanding this before you lodge, since it affects whether you get a refund or owe additional tax.
What Happens If You Miss the Deadline
Missing the 31 October deadline can trigger Failure to Lodge (FTL) penalties, calculated in blocks of time from the due date, plus interest charges on any unpaid tax. If you know you’re going to be late, lodging late is still far better than not lodging at all — penalties generally get worse the longer a return remains outstanding.
Final Thoughts
For most people with straightforward income — a single job, no investments, no business — self-lodging through myTax is free and manageable in under an hour once your data is pre-filled. If your situation is more complex (multiple income sources, investments, or you’re unsure about deductions), registering with a tax agent before the October deadline both gets you expert help and buys you significantly more time to lodge.
*This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice. For guidance specific to your situation, consult a registered tax agent or the Australian Taxation Office directly.*