Do you know when and how to lodge your individual tax return for 2025?
Individual Tax Return Lodgments for 2025 apply to employees, sole traders, and anyone with income above certain thresholds. The process involves declaring your earnings, claiming deductions, and using the correct Medicare levy or offsets. Lodging on time helps with;
- Staying compliant with ATO rules
- Avoiding penalties
- Maximising tax refund
With deadlines approaching, living costs rising, and the ATO taking a closer look at deductions, it’s more important than ever to know when to lodge, what records to keep, and whether working with a registered tax agent could save you time and money. Doing it right brings peace of mind and could put more money back in your pocket. And if you’re still unsure, Aupod’s experts can make Australian tax time 2025 easier for you.
Who Needs to Lodge an Individual Tax Return for 2025?
Anyone earning more than the threshold income- $18,200 during the 2024–25 financial year- needs to lodge a tax return for 2025. In 2025, cost-of-living pressures remain high, so making the most of your return is more important than ever. Lodging your return is more than a legal obligation. It helps you:
- Declare your income from wages, investments, and other sources.
- Claim eligible deductions and offsets to reduce taxable income.
- Ensure correct Medicare levy and other obligations are applied.
- Access potential refunds if you’ve paid more tax than required.
When Can You Lodge a Tax Return for Individuals 2025?
Australian Tax Time: July 1, 2025 – October 31, 2025
The new financial year starts on 1 July 2025, and from that date, you can begin lodging your tax return. The ATO recommends waiting until late July or even mid-August. By then, most of your income details from employers, banks, and super funds will be pre-filled in your myGov account. Waiting a few extra weeks makes the process smoother and reduces the risk of mistakes, amendments, or delays.
Deadlines for Individual Tax Return Lodgments for 2025
- Self-lodgment deadline: October 31, 2025
- Tax agent deadline: May 15, 2026
If you’re lodging your tax return yourself through myTax or by paper form, the deadline is 31 October 2025. If you use a registered tax agent, you need to be on their books by 31 October 2025. Once registered, most tax agents can lodge on your behalf right up until 15 May 2026, with some concessions extending to 5 June 2026. This extra time is especially helpful for individuals and sole traders with more complex tax situations, and Aupod’s experts can guide you through it.
Individual Tax Return Lodgments for 2025 Australia Requirements
To lodge an individual tax return for 2025 in Australia, you need to declare all income, claim eligible deductions, and include Medicare levy or offsets. If you can’t find your TFN, check your myGov app, payslip, or previous tax return. Besides that, you should have the documentation ready, including;
- Your Tax File Number (TFN)
- Income statements from employers
- Bank interest, dividend, or rental income records
- Private health insurance statements
- Records of deductions (work expenses, self-education, donations, etc.)
- Details of super contributions
How to Lodge Your Individual Tax Return
There are two ways to file your Individual tax return in Australia: one through the government’s official website or through a TPB-registered tax agent.
Individual Tax Return Lodgments for 2025 Online via myGov
For Individual Tax Return Lodgments for 2025 in Australia online, you can use your myGov account linked to the ATO. Once logged in, go to Tax → Lodgments → Income Tax. Check the pre-filled information, add any deductions you’re entitled to, and then submit your return.
Through a Registered Tax Agent
Registered tax agents give expert guidance, help you claim every eligible deduction, and deal directly with the ATO on your behalf. Their fees are also tax-deductible in the following year.
At Aupod, our registered tax agents make lodgment simple for individuals and sole traders. We check the details, claim every eligible deduction, and manage ATO correspondence, giving you clarity and confidence at tax time
Paper tax return 2025
If you lodge your tax return using paper forms (NAT 2541), the ATO typically needs up to 10 weeks (around 50 business days) to process it, with it taking as long as 7 weeks before it’s even entered into their systems
Refunds and Processing Times
Refunds are issued via electronic funds transfer (EFT) if you’ve provided your bank details. Cheques are being phased out, with stricter rules applying in 2025.
| Lodgment Type | Lodgment Processing Time |
| Online lodgments | Usually processed within 2 weeks |
| Tax agent lodgments | Around 2 weeks |
| Paper lodgments | Up to 10 weeks |
Tax Return for Individuals 2025 Missteps
Getting your tax return right the first time means fewer delays, fewer headaches, and a smoother experience overall. The ATO’s main areas of focus include incorrectly claimed work-related expenses, overlooked sources of income, and inflated rental deductions. Here’s how to stay on track:
- Leaving out income like casual work, side gigs, or sharing-economy earnings. The ATO cross-checks third-party data, so omissions could trigger discrepancies or audits.
- Personal costs like everyday clothes or phone use can be red flags. Work-related claims need solid records, especially for home-office, tools, or training.
- You may miss pre-filled data (like from employers or banks) and end up lodging incomplete information, which often leads to amendments.
What If You Owe the ATO for an Individual Tax Return
If you can’t pay your tax bill in one go, the ATO lets you spread it out with a payment plan, paying weekly, fortnightly, or monthly. Interest (the General Interest Charge) keeps building each day, so paying sooner will reduce what you owe overall. Most individuals have two years from the notice of assessment to amend errors, but sole traders now get four years for the 2024–25 year onwards
Key takeaways
Individual Tax Return Lodgments for 2025 is all about staying updated on ATO deadlines, collecting relevant documents, and considering whether to use a registered tax agent to stay compliant and make the most of the tax return. At Aupod, our registered tax agents are here to simplify the process, maximise your refund, and ensure your lodgment is accurate and on time.
Start your tax journey with Aupod today, lodge smarter, faster, and with confidence.
