Frequently Asked Questions Made Simple
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Everything you need to know about lodging with Tax Falcon, from pricing to deductions to the ATO process. Pick a category below to find your answer.
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Questions
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[Category tab] General
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[Category tab] Pricing
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[Category tab] Student Returns
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[Category tab] Standard Returns
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[Category tab] Sole Traders, Property & Investors
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[Category tab] Deductions & Records
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[Category tab] Lodging & the ATO
Category panel: panel-general
General
What is Tax Falcon?
Tax Falcon is an Australian online tax agent. You answer a few simple questions, we pull your available information from the ATO, and a registered tax agent reviews and lodges your return. Prices are flat: $69 for students, $88 for standard returns and from $229 for sole traders, property owners and investors.
How does Tax Falcon work?
You register, answer simple questions and we connect to the ATO to pull in your available information automatically. A registered tax agent reviews your return and lodges it with the ATO. The ATO then issues your notice of assessment, and any refund is paid to your bank account. See How it works.
Is Tax Falcon a registered tax agent?
Yes. Tax Falcon is a registered tax agent (Tax Practitioners Board registration 26359813). Every return is reviewed and lodged by a registered tax agent. You can check any agent’s registration for free on the Tax Practitioners Board public register.
Is Tax Falcon legit?
Yes. Tax Falcon is a registered tax agent (TPB 26359813) that lodges directly with the ATO, with flat fees shown upfront. The ATO and the Tax Practitioners Board are the official checks. See Is Tax Falcon legit?.
How long does it take to get my refund?
The ATO usually issues a notice of assessment within 2 weeks of lodgement, and your refund is paid to your nominated bank account after that. It can take longer if the ATO needs to review your return or check details. Lodging after your pre-fill data is complete helps avoid delays.
Is my information secure?
Yes. Tax Falcon encrypts your personal and financial details at every step, and the site is secured by 256-bit SSL. We use your information only to prepare and lodge your tax return. See our Privacy Policy.
What do I need to start my tax return?
You need your tax file number (TFN), your bank details for your refund, and your income statements, which pre-fill from the ATO. Keep records for any deductions you plan to claim, such as receipts, and your private health insurance statement if you have cover.
Who can use Tax Falcon?
Tax Falcon is built for Australians who need to lodge an individual tax return: students, employees with one or more jobs, sole traders, rental property owners and investors. Pick the plan that matches your income. See Pricing.
How is Tax Falcon different from lodging myself with myTax?
myTax is free but you do all the work yourself. With Tax Falcon a registered tax agent reviews and lodges your return, and the flat fee is shown upfront. The fee is generally tax deductible the following year. See Tax Falcon vs myTax.
How do I contact Tax Falcon?
Our team is here to help before, during or after you lodge. Contact us through the details on our website, and have your name and the email you registered with ready so we can find your return quickly.
Category panel: panel-pricing
Pricing
How much does a tax return cost in Australia?
With Tax Falcon, a student tax return is $69, a standard tax return is $88, and sole trader, property or investor returns start from $229. Prices are flat, with no hourly rates. See Pricing.
Is the price really all I pay?
Yes. The price you see for your plan is the flat fee for your return. There are no hourly rates. Choose the plan that matches your income so the price is right from the start.
What is the difference between the $69, $88 and $229 plans?
$69 is for students with part-time or casual work, $88 is for standard employee returns, and $229 and up is for returns with business income, rental property or investments. Higher plans cover more complex tax situations and extra schedules.
How do I know which plan is right for me?
Choose Student if you’re studying and working part time or casually. Choose Standard if you’re an employee with one or more jobs. Choose the $229 plan if you have sole trader income, a rental property or share and investment income. See Student, Standard and Sole Trader.
Is the Tax Falcon fee tax deductible?
Generally yes. The cost of managing your tax affairs, including fees paid to a registered tax agent, is usually deductible in the income year you pay it. Keep your invoice and claim it in your next return.
Is it worth paying a tax agent instead of using myTax?
myTax is free, but you do everything yourself. A registered tax agent reviews your return before it is lodged, which helps you claim what you’re entitled to and reduces the risk of mistakes. The fee is generally deductible. See Tax Falcon vs myTax.
Can I see the price before I start?
Yes. Our flat prices are on the Pricing page: $69, $88 and from $229. Check your plan there before you register.
Why does a sole trader return cost more than a standard return?
Sole trader returns include business income and expenses, an ABN, extra records and additional schedules, so there is more to prepare and check. A standard return has employee income only, so it costs $88.
Is Tax Falcon cheaper than etax or H&R Block?
Prices change, so compare the total cost on each provider’s website, including add-ons and what’s included. Our fees are flat and shown upfront. See Tax Falcon vs etax and Tax Falcon vs H&R Block.
Does paying more give me a bigger refund?
No. Your refund depends on your income, the tax already withheld and your deductions. The plan price only matches the work needed for your situation.
Category panel: panel-student
Student Returns
How much does a student tax return cost?
A student tax return with Tax Falcon is $69, a flat fee. It’s for students working part time or casually. See Student Tax Return.
Can I get a tax refund as a student?
Yes, if your employer withheld tax. The tax-free threshold is $18,200, so if you earned less than that and tax was withheld, you can usually get all of it back by lodging a return. Lodging is the only way to claim it.
Do I need to lodge a tax return if I’m a full-time student?
You generally need to lodge if you earned more than $18,200, or if tax was withheld from your pay. If you earned less and no tax was withheld, you may not have to. Lodging is still worthwhile if tax was withheld, because that’s how you get it back.
Can I claim my laptop or textbooks?
Only if they’re used for work, or your study is directly connected to your current job. If a laptop costs $300 or less, you can generally claim the work-use portion immediately. Above $300, you claim depreciation over its effective life, which the ATO sets at 2 years for laptops.
Does HECS-HELP affect my student tax return?
HELP repayments are worked out on your tax return, but you only repay once your repayment income passes the ATO threshold ($67,000 for 2025-26). Below that, you repay nothing. You can’t deduct HELP repayments.
What counts as a student for the $69 plan?
The Student plan is for students working part time or casually. If you have business income, a rental property or investments, choose the $229 plan instead.
Can international students lodge a tax return?
Yes. If you earned income in Australia you generally lodge a return. Your tax residency decides the rates. Non-residents pay 30% on the first $135,000 and get no tax-free threshold, while residents get the $18,200 threshold.
What deductions can students claim?
Work-related expenses you paid for yourself and weren’t reimbursed for, such as tools and uniforms, and study costs only if they relate to your current job. You also need records. Everyday clothes and travel to work generally can’t be claimed.
When should students lodge their tax return?
The tax year ends 30 June, and you can lodge from 1 July. Most pre-fill data is complete by the end of August, so lodging then avoids amendments. The deadline is 31 October.
What if I had more than one casual job?
Report all of them. The ATO pre-fills your income statements. Tax-free threshold is usually claimed at one employer only, so tax withheld at the second job may be higher, and a return balances it. You may get a refund or owe a small amount.
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Standard Returns
How much does a standard tax return cost?
A standard tax return with Tax Falcon is $88, a flat fee for employee income and deductions. See Standard Tax Return.
What if I had more than one job during the year?
Report every job. The ATO pre-fills each income statement. Employers withhold tax based on whether you claimed the $18,200 tax-free threshold, so a second job is often taxed at a higher rate, and your return reconciles the total. You may get a refund or owe tax.
What can I claim as a work-related deduction?
You can claim a cost if you paid for it yourself, weren’t reimbursed, it directly relates to earning your income, and you have a record. Common claims are uniforms, tools, phone and internet use, working from home and self-education. See Tax Deductions Guide.
What if I don’t get a refund, or I owe money?
Your notice of assessment shows the amount owing and the due date. If you can’t pay in full, the ATO offers payment plans. Paying late can attract interest, so contact the ATO early. Owing tax means too little was withheld during the year.
Do I need to lodge a tax return every year?
Generally yes, if you earned more than the $18,200 tax-free threshold, or if tax was withheld from your pay. The ATO also asks some people to lodge for other reasons. If you’re unsure, check with our team.
What are the tax rates for 2025-26?
For residents: $0 to $18,200 pays nothing. $18,201 to $45,000 pays 16%. $45,001 to $135,000 pays $4,288 plus 30%. $135,001 to $190,000 pays $31,288 plus 37%. Above $190,000 pays $51,638 plus 45%. Medicare levy of 2% is on top.
How much can I claim for working from home?
The fixed rate method is 70 cents per hour worked from home. It covers electricity, gas, internet, phone and stationery. You must keep a record of your hours, such as a timesheet or diary. See Work From Home Deductions.
What do I need to lodge a standard return?
Your TFN, your bank details, your income statements (pre-filled from the ATO), receipts or records for any deductions, and your private health insurance statement if you have cover. Lodging after pre-fill is complete avoids amendments.
Can I claim car expenses?
Yes, if you drive for work, not to commute. The cents per kilometre method is 88 cents per km for 2025-26, up to 5,000 km. You must be able to show how you worked out the kilometres. The logbook method needs a 12-week log.
What is the tax-free threshold and the Medicare levy?
The tax-free threshold is $18,200 for residents, so the first $18,200 you earn is taxed at 0%. The Medicare levy is generally 2% of your taxable income, with reductions for low-income earners.
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Sole Traders, Property & Investors
How much does the Sole Trader, Property or Investor tax return cost?
Sole trader, property and investor returns with Tax Falcon start from $229. The plan covers business income and expenses, rental property or investment income in your individual return. See Sole Trader Tax Return.
Do I need a separate tax return for my business?
No. A sole trader is not a separate legal entity, so you report business income and expenses in your individual tax return using a business schedule. A company, trust or partnership does lodge its own return.
What about my rental property?
Report all rent and claim deductions such as loan interest, council rates, insurance, agent fees and repairs. You can also claim capital works depreciation, generally 2.5% a year on buildings built after 15 September 1987. See Property Tax Return.
What about shares, managed funds or capital gains?
Dividends, distributions and capital gains are reported in your return. If you held an asset for more than 12 months, individuals generally get a 50% CGT discount. Capital losses can offset gains and carry forward. Crypto is also a CGT asset. See Investor Tax Return.
Do I need to register for GST?
You must register if your business turnover is $75,000 or more. Rideshare and taxi drivers must register from their first dollar. You can register voluntarily below that. Check your turnover, not your profit.
Is my BAS part of my tax return?
No. BAS is a separate report for GST and PAYG instalments, usually quarterly. It’s not part of your income tax return. If you’re not sure whether you need to lodge BAS, ask our team.
What business expenses can sole traders claim?
Expenses directly related to earning business income: tools and equipment, vehicle use, phone and internet, insurance, accounting fees, advertising and a home office. Keep invoices and receipts, and only claim the business portion.
Do I need an ABN?
Yes, if you operate a business as a sole trader. Applying for an ABN is free through the Australian Business Register. You’ll need it to invoice and to register for GST.
What income do I need to report?
All income you earned, including cash, side jobs, platform income from apps like Uber, Airbnb or Etsy, and payments with or without GST. Platforms now report earnings to the ATO, so make sure your records match.
Can sole traders claim super contributions?
Yes. You can claim a deduction for personal super contributions up to the concessional cap, which is $30,000 for 2025-26. You must lodge a notice of intent with your fund, and keep the acknowledgement.
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Deductions & Records
What can I claim as a deduction?
You can claim a cost if you paid it yourself, weren’t reimbursed, it directly relates to earning your income and you have a record. Common claims: work from home (70 cents per hour), uniforms, tools, phone and internet, self-education and donations of $2 or more. See Tax Deductions Guide.
What records do I need to keep?
Keep receipts, invoices and bank statements for 5 years from the date you lodge. For assets, keep records for 5 years after you sell or dispose of them. Digital copies are fine.
What if I don’t have receipts for everything?
Use bank or card statements, supplier invoices or emails as evidence. If your total work-related expenses are $300 or less, you don’t need receipts, but you must still be able to explain how you worked out the amount.
Can Tax Falcon help me find deductions I might miss?
Yes. A registered tax agent reviews your return before it’s lodged, so common deductions are checked. You still need your own records for anything you claim.
How do I keep records for working from home?
For the 70 cents per hour method, record your hours worked from home through a timesheet, roster or diary. Keep this for the full year, not just a sample period.
Do I need a logbook for car deductions?
Only for the logbook method. It needs 12 continuous weeks of records and stays valid for 5 years. The cents per kilometre method (88 cents per km for 2025-26, up to 5,000 km) doesn’t need a logbook.
Can I claim donations?
Yes, if you gave $2 or more to a deductible gift recipient (DGR) and kept the receipt. Gifts that give you something in return, like raffles and charity dinners, generally can’t be claimed.
Are digital receipts accepted?
Yes. The ATO accepts photos and scans, as long as they’re clear and you keep them for 5 years. The ATO’s myDeductions app helps you store receipts through the year.
What can’t I claim?
Travel between home and your regular workplace, everyday clothes, childcare, fines and private costs. A cost must have a direct link to earning your income.
What if the ATO asks me to prove my claims?
Provide your records, such as receipts, statements or logbooks, by the date given. This is why records matter. If you can’t prove a claim, the ATO may reduce it.
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Lodging & the ATO
When is the tax return deadline in Australia?
The usual deadline is 31 October. In 2026 it fell on a Saturday, so lodging by Monday 2 November counts as on time. If you have a registered tax agent before the deadline, you may be able to lodge later. See Tax Deadlines.
What does ATO pre-fill mean?
Pre-fill means the ATO fills in your income details automatically from employers, banks and health funds. It saves typing and cuts errors. Most data is complete by the end of August.
How long does the ATO take to process my return?
The ATO usually processes online returns within 2 weeks. It can take longer if your return is checked or details need to be reviewed. Check your status through your myGov account or ATO online.
What happens after I lodge my return?
The ATO issues a notice of assessment showing your refund or the amount you owe. Refunds are paid to your nominated bank account. If you owe tax, pay by the due date on your notice.
What happens if I lodge late?
The ATO can apply a failure to lodge penalty of 1 penalty unit for each 28 days (or part) the return is late, up to 5 units, which is $1,820. Lodging as soon as possible keeps the penalty lower. See Overdue Tax Returns.
Can I still lodge if I missed the deadline?
Yes. Lodge as soon as you can. If you’re owed a refund, there’s generally no penalty, but the ATO may still ask you to lodge any other overdue returns first. See Overdue Tax Returns.
Can I fix a mistake after lodging?
Yes. You can generally amend your return within 2 years of the notice of assessment. A registered tax agent can lodge the amendment, which the ATO then reviews.
When can I lodge my tax return?
From 1 July. Most income data is pre-filled by the end of August, so lodging after that is safest. Employers finalise data through Single Touch Payroll by 14 July.
How do I get my refund?
The ATO pays your refund to the bank account on your return, so check your BSB and account number before lodging. Refunds usually arrive within days of your notice of assessment.
Why Tax Falcon
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Real Support When You Need It
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