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when is tax due australia

For most individual taxpayers in Australia, the key date to remember is 31 October, and then different rules apply if you use a tax agent or are a business, trust, or company.

Main individual due dates

  • If you lodge your own tax return (myGov/ATO online, paper, or phone), the due date is 31 October following the end of the financial year (for the 1 July 2024 – 30 June 2025 year, that’s 31 October 2025).
  • If you use a registered tax agent and you are on their lodgment program, your return is often not due until 15 May of the following year , though your exact date depends on your circumstances and the agent’s ATO schedule.
  • To qualify for these extended agent deadlines, you normally must be on the tax agent’s client list by 31 October.

When is the actual tax payment due?

  • When you lodge, the ATO sends you a Notice of Assessment , and that document shows your payment due date.
  • If you lodge early, you may get an earlier payment date; if you lodge later (within the allowed window), the ATO will usually give you more time to pay, but you must follow the date on your assessment.

Other common ATO deadlines (quick snapshot)

These are not the same as the individual income tax date, but they often get confused with “tax due date in Australia.”

  • Business activity statements (BAS) :
    • Quarterly BAS is usually due 28 days after the end of the quarter (with some extensions for electronic lodgers).
* Monthly BAS is usually due on the **21st of the following month**.
  • Payroll tax (state-based): often monthly, e.g. dates like 9 March 2026 for February 2026 in QLD, plus an annual reconciliation date.
  • Trusts and larger entities : some 2025-year trust returns have due dates like 15 January 2026 or 28 February 2026 , depending on income level and whether they’re taxable or non‑taxable.

Simple “when is tax due in Australia?” answer

  • For most people asking this question, the practical short answer is:
    • Lodge your personal tax return by 31 October if you do it yourself.
* If you use a **registered tax agent** , you can often lodge as late as **15 May** of the following year, but you must sign up with the agent by **31 October** , and your actual date may differ according to the ATO’s lodgment program.

Always check the ATO website or a registered tax professional for your exact date, because specific client types and years can have different lodgment and payment deadlines.

TL;DR:

  • Individuals (self-lodging): 31 October after the end of the financial year.
  • Through a registered tax agent: commonly up to 15 May of the next year if you are on their list by 31 October.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.