How to Lodge Your First Australian Tax Return: A New Migrant's Guide
Australian tax year ends 30 June. By 31 October you must have lodged a return. If you're from a country where the employer just deducts tax and you never see a return, this is going to feel like extra admin — but most new migrants get a refund of $1,000-$3,000 in their first year. Here's how to do it right.
In this article
When to Lodge (Your First Year)
The Australian financial year runs 1 July to 30 June. Lodgement opens 1 July for the year that just finished. Key dates:
| Date | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 1 July | Lodgement opens for the financial year just finished. Pre-fill data is incomplete for the first 1-2 weeks. |
| Mid-July | Most pre-fill data flows through (employers, banks, Medicare, super funds). Best time to lodge. |
| 31 October | Standard lodgement deadline if you self-lodge via myTax. |
| Mid-May (next year) | Extended deadline IF you're registered with a tax agent BEFORE 31 October. |
If you arrived in Australia part-way through the year, you only declare income earned from your arrival date onwards. If you're still working overseas remotely for a foreign employer, that may also be assessable — speak to a tax agent.
Who Has to Lodge a Return
You must lodge a return if any of these apply during the financial year:
- You earned any Australian income above the tax-free threshold (~$18,200 if you were a tax resident the whole year, pro-rated if part-year)
- You had any tax withheld from your wages (almost everyone — and this is how you get a refund)
- You were paid distributions from a trust, dividends from shares, interest above $416, or rental income
- You operated a business or earned ABN income
- You received a Centrelink payment that wasn't exempt
- The ATO has sent you a request to lodge
If none of the above apply (e.g. you arrived in late June and didn't work that financial year), you can lodge a “Non-lodgement Advice” via myTax to formally tell the ATO you don't need to lodge.
Three Ways to Lodge
Three main paths, each suited to different situations:
| Method | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| myTax (online via myGov) | Free | Standard wages + simple deductions |
| Registered tax agent | $120-450 | Complex affairs, ABN income, multiple jobs, foreign income |
| Tax Help (free, ATO-trained volunteers) | Free | Income under $60k, simple returns, English support needed |
For most first-year migrants on a single salaried job, myTax is the right answer — free, fast, refund in 2 weeks. If you have multiple jobs, a partner's income to coordinate, or income from your home country, paying $200-400 for a tax agent often saves more than its cost in legitimate deductions you wouldn't have known to claim.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
Lodging via myTax: Step by Step
Step 1: Make sure your myGov is linked to the ATO
Log in to my.gov.au, click “Services” → “Link a service” → choose ATO. You'll need your TFN, recent payment summary, and a notice from the ATO. If you've never lodged before, the ATO sends a one-time “linking code” to your registered address.
Step 2: Wait for pre-fill (mid-July)
From 1 July, the ATO collects data from your employers, banks, super funds, Medicare, Centrelink, and stockbrokers. By mid-July, most pre-fill is complete. Lodging before then means manually entering numbers — much higher chance of errors.
Step 3: Open myTax and start your return
In myGov, click ATO → Lodgements → “Income tax” → “Lodge”. Choose the financial year. The system walks you through standard sections: personal details, income, deductions, offsets, Medicare levy, summary.
Step 4: Verify pre-filled income
Check that all your employers, bank interest, dividends, and super contributions appear and match your records. If something's missing or wrong, edit it. Don't click “Accept” on numbers you can't verify.
Step 5: Add deductions
Click into the “Deductions” section. Common ones for new migrants: work-related uniforms, professional development courses (if related to current job), home office hours, donations. The ATO has a “deductions you might be entitled to” tool that asks questions and surfaces options based on your job category.
Step 6: Review and lodge
myTax shows your estimated refund or amount owing. If you're owing, you can pay immediately or by 21 November via BPAY. If you're getting a refund, confirm the bank account it goes to (usually pre-filled from your last lodgement).
Step 7: Get your Notice of Assessment
Within 2 weeks the ATO emails you a “Notice of Assessment” — the official confirmation of your tax outcome. Refunds land in your nominated bank account within 5-10 business days of the notice.
Common Deductions for New Migrants
The ATO lets you claim expenses that are directly related to earning your assessable income. Common ones almost every employee can claim:
- Work-related uniforms or protective clothing — branded uniforms, high-vis, steel-cap boots. NOT regular business attire.
- Home office expenses — $0.67 per hour worked from home (shortcut method, no receipts needed) covers electricity, internet, phone use, depreciation
- Tools and equipment — laptop, tools, equipment used for work. Items under $300 deductible immediately; over $300 depreciated over their useful life
- Self-education — tuition fees, textbooks, professional certifications IF directly related to your current job (not for changing careers)
- Travel between work sites — NOT your commute, but driving from one work site to another in the same day
- Union fees, professional association memberships — fully deductible
- Income-protection insurance premiums — fully deductible (life and TPD insurance through super are NOT)
- Tax agent fees — your previous year's tax agent fees are deductible this year
- Donations to registered charities — over $2 each, with a receipt, to deductible gift recipients (DGR)
First-year migrants often miss: relocation costs (NOT deductible — these are personal), visa fees (NOT deductible), and English-language tuition (only deductible if directly required for your current employment).
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
Lodging Late or Amending a Return
If you miss the 31 October deadline (and aren't using a tax agent):
- If you're owed a refund: no penalty, but your refund is delayed. Just lodge as soon as possible.
- If you owe tax: $313 Failure to Lodge penalty per 28-day period late (max $1,565 / 5 periods). Plus general interest charge of ~11%/year on the unpaid amount.
- If genuinely unable to pay: contact the ATO before the deadline. They're generally willing to set up a payment plan.
If you realise after lodging you missed a deduction or made an error: you can amend through myTax up to 2 years after the original notice of assessment (4 years for complex cases). The amendment is free and triggers a recalculation. Don't lodge a second return — that creates a duplicate-record nightmare.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Lodging in the first week of July. Pre-fill is incomplete — you'll enter numbers manually that don't match what your employer reports. Wait until mid-July.
- Not having a TFN linked to your bank. Interest gets taxed at 47% instead of your marginal rate. See our TFN guide.
- Claiming the tax-free threshold on TWO jobs. If you have two jobs, claim it only on the higher-paying one. Claiming twice = surprise tax bill at year end.
- Claiming personal commuting as a deduction. Driving from home to your regular workplace is NOT deductible. Driving between two work sites IS.
- Inflating deductions without receipts. ATO data-matching catches inconsistencies. Audits can go back 4 years and reverse disallowed deductions plus penalties (25-75% of the tax shortfall).
- Forgetting to declare foreign income. If you're a tax resident, your worldwide income is assessable. Foreign tax already paid usually gives you a credit so you're not double-taxed — but you must declare it.
- Not declaring side-hustle income. Selling on Etsy, driving Uber, freelancing — even small amounts. The ATO matches data from platforms.
Lodging your tax return is part of a wider settling-in checklist — see our guides on applying for a TFN (must come before your first payday), superannuation (your fund needs your TFN within 28 days), and Medicare (the Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income).
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Australian tax year?
1 July to 30 June. You lodge from 1 July onwards, with a 31 October deadline if self-lodging. Tax agents can extend that to mid-May the following year if you register with them before 31 October.
Do I have to lodge a tax return as a new migrant?
Yes if you earned Australian income or had any tax withheld. Even arriving part-way through the year, you must lodge for the months you worked.
How does myTax work?
myTax is the ATO's free online lodgement system via myGov. From mid-July it pre-fills your wages, interest, dividends from data your employers and banks reported. You add deductions, review, submit. Refunds typically arrive within 2 weeks.
What is the tax-free threshold?
$18,200 — the first $18,200 of income tax-free for Australian tax residents. Pro-rated for new migrants who arrived part-way through the year. Only claim it on your main job.
Am I a resident for tax purposes?
Generally yes if you've been in Australia 183+ days in the year, or intend to stay long-term. The ATO has a residency test on its site. Tax residents pay lower rates and get the threshold; non-residents pay 32.5% from the first dollar.
What deductions can I claim?
Work-related expenses (uniforms, tools, courses), home office costs ($0.67/hour shortcut), self-education directly related to your current role, professional memberships, donations to registered charities. Always keep receipts — ATO can audit returns up to 4 years later.
When will I get my refund?
Most myTax refunds arrive within 2 weeks, often 5-7 business days. Paper returns or returns flagged for review can take 8-12 weeks.
What if I lodge late?
$313 Failure to Lodge penalty per 28-day period (max $1,565). Plus interest on any unpaid tax. If you're owed a refund, no penalty — just delay. If genuinely unable to pay, contact the ATO early to set up a payment plan.
Official Resources
- ATO — Your tax return (ato.gov.au)
- myGov — link to ATO and lodge via myTax (my.gov.au)
- ATO — Tax residency for new arrivals (ato.gov.au)
- ATO — Deductions you can claim (ato.gov.au)
- ATO — Tax Help free volunteer service for low-income earners (ato.gov.au)
- Tax Practitioners Board — Find a registered tax agent (tpb.gov.au)
For more on the wider Australian financial picture, see superannuation for new migrants, opening an Australian bank account, and (if you're here on a partner visa) Centrelink eligibility.
Bottom line:
Lodge in mid-to-late July via myTax (free, fast, $0). If your tax life is complex (multiple jobs, ABN, foreign income), pay $200-400 for a registered agent — they'll pay for themselves in extra deductions. Always claim the tax-free threshold on only one job, and never inflate deductions you can't prove with receipts.