1. Common work-related deductions

• Vehicle travel between workpapers, 
• Work-from-home costs, 
• Memberships and union fees, 
• Tools & equipment

But only claim deductions you can prove! The ATO are focussed on work-related deductions and data matching. 

If you haven’t paid for an expense yourself, it doesn’t relate to earning your income, or you don’t have receipts, it probably isn’t a deduction – but ask us!

2. Make sure all income is declared

Do you earn income from a side hustle or an investment that doesn’t get reported to the ATO? 

Check with us if you need to include this. 

3. Do you work from home?

If so, make sure to claim what you’re entitled to!

Let us know how many hours you work from home to claim the fixed rate method. 

Or discuss with us how to claim actual expenses. 

4. Other deductions

• Personal super contributions
• Last year’s Tax Agent fees
• Financial advisor fees or expenses relating to investments
• Income protection insurance 

5. Only claim deductions you can prove.

The ATO are focussed on work-related deductions and data matching. 

If you haven’t paid for an expense yourself, it doesn’t relate to earning your income, or you don’t have receipts, it probably isn’t a deduction – but ask us!

31 October 2026

• Prepare yourself and lodge via myGov, or

• Lodge via paper tax returns, or

• If you have overdue unlodged tax returns for 2025 or earlier, or lodged 2025 late. 

31 March 2027 

• If you lodge through an accountant and your last tax return results in more than $20,000 tax payable. 

15 May 2027

• If you don’t fit into any of the categories above. 

Our fees to assist with the preparation of your 2026 individual tax return are as follows:

• Wage earner – individual: $360 GST inc

• Wage earner – couple: $630 GST inc

The following items attract additional fees:

• Rental properties: From $310 GST inc. per property**

• Share sales: From $180 GST inc. per parcel**

• Business income and expenses: Please contact us to discuss

**  Please note, the fees outlined above are subject to complete and tidy information being provided. Incomplete records may incur additional charges  **

If you need help to lodge overdue tax returns or amend a tax return you have lodged via myGov, please contact us to discuss.

We require payment upfront at the time of preparing your return – we do not offer deduction of fees from refunds.

Would you like additional protection in the event of a Tax Office audit? We offer ECCC to accounting fees relating to income tax audits as follows:

• Individual: $220

• Couple: $380

Generally, tax records must be kept for 5 years from the date you lodge your tax return. Some specific situations require different time frames. See the  Tax Office website for further information or discuss with your Accountant.

Need help keeping your records together? The Tax Office app has a record keeping function called myDeductions where you can keep track of all of your receipts including photos!

Not sure if you need to lodge a tax return? 

Generally, if you earn less than the tax-free threshold you will not be required to lodge a tax return, however there are circumstances in which you will need to lodge.

For more information and to use the Tax Office Do I need to lodge a tax return? tool, visit ATO website.