In Australia, the ability to lodge your tax return (for the financial year ending June 30th) begins in July, and the refund typically "comes" or is processed within a few weeks of lodging.
Tax returns and assessments
A non-resident earning AUD 1 or more of Australian-sourced income must file a return. There is no joint assessment or joint filing in Australia. The income tax return is due for filing by the following 31 October, unless an extension is available for tax agent lodged returns.
The best time to claim a tax refund is usually January or February after the end of the previous tax year (which runs from 1st January to 31st December just like the normal calendar year). However you can actually claim a refund going back up to four years, so in 2026 you can claim a refund going as far back as 2022.
IRS will start accepting tax returns on Jan. 26 for 2026 filing season.
Yes, $80k is a good salary in Australia, placing you above the national median, but its value depends heavily on your location and lifestyle, offering a comfortable life in regional areas or less expensive cities (Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide) but requiring careful budgeting in Sydney or Melbourne due to high rent. It's above the average full-time earnings but will feel tighter in expensive cities, especially if supporting a family or wanting significant savings, say Reddit users.
Deductions reduce your taxable income, which can result in a higher refund if you overpaid taxes based on a higher income estimate. Common deductions include: Standard Deduction: The standard deduction amount varies based on your filing status.
If you're lodging your own tax return, you need to lodge it by 31 October each year.
The 2025 Filing Season for individuals opens on 7 July 2025 and covers these major dates: Auto Assessment notices: 7 July 2025 to 20 July 2025. Individual taxpayers: 21July 2025 to 20 October 2025. Provisional taxpayers: 21 July 2025 to 19 January 2026.
How long after your Notice of Assessment do you get your refund? Most taxpayers receive their refund within 8 business days after their Notice of Assessment is processed if they filed electronically and are signed up for direct deposit.
The tax years you can use are:
If you earn $87,000 a year, in the 2021/22 financial year you are eligible for a $1,080 tax offset plus an additional $420 cost of living tax offset.
Processing timeframes
Most online returns process within 2 weeks, however if we need to manually process it, it may take up to 30 calendar days. Paper returns may take up to 10 weeks (50 business days) to process. It can take up to 7 weeks for paper returns to show in our systems.
Since the IRS typically begins accepting tax returns in January, early tax filing can mean that you're filing your taxes any time between early January and late March. For 2025 individual tax returns filed in 2026, the IRS will begin accepting returns January 26, 2026.
By choosing the 5 days early refund delivery offered by TurboTax, you can receive your federal refund 5 days before the IRS would have delivered it. The IRS usually sends federal refunds within 21 days for most customers. This can be especially beneficial for those who need funds quickly.
A Self Assessment return for a particular year can be submitted from the day after that tax year ends. For example: The end of the 2024/25 tax year is 5th April 2025. You can submit your Self Assessment tax return for the 2024/25 tax year from 6th April 2025 onwards.
1 July 2025 – Tax season officially opens, and you can start lodging your return. 31 October 2025 – Deadline for self-lodged tax returns.
The IRS generally issues refunds within 21 days of e-filing, but paper-filed returns can take 6 to 8 weeks.
If you owe tax: The ATO may apply a Failure to Lodge on Time (FTL) penalty. This is generally calculated in 28-day blocks at around $330 per period overdue, up to a maximum of around $1,650. On top of this, interest is charged on the outstanding amount.
By filing as soon as you have your paperwork together, you'll limit the chances of your refund being at risk. This could mean filing your return in February or earlier. To get your refund quickly: If you want your refund as soon as possible, avoid mailing a paper return.
How to maximize tax return: 4 ways to increase your tax refund
You can deduct these expenses whether you take the standard deduction or itemize:
You can get a tax rebate if you've overpaid tax or haven't claimed tax refunds during the financial year. This can include any money you've earned or spent, such as: pay from your current or previous job. work-related spending, for example, if you've paid for a uniform with your own money.