Tax returns in Australia
Australian tax returns for the tax year ending June 30 are generally due on October 31 of the same calendar year. Extensions can be made available. Each year, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) publishes TaxPack, a free document designed to help individuals complete their return. TaxPack is available free from most newsagents and can also be downloaded.
It has been estimated that almost 80% of Australian taxpayers use a tax agent to help them prepare their tax return. This is seen to be reflective of the perceived complexity of the taxation system in Australia. Extensions are automatically availible to those individuals using a Registered Tax Agent operating on an extended lodgement system.
Australian individual taxpayers can also lodge their return online with the ATO's e-tax software or through an online tax agent. In Australia, individuals and taxpaying entities with taxable income might need to lodge different returns with the ATO in respect of various forms of taxation.