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The Complete Tax Return Checklist for Australia (2026)
Everything you need to gather before you sit down to lodge, whether you're doing a simple return or juggling a business, property and investments. Work through it once and the rest of tax time is just data entry.
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Nothing missed
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ATO-ready records
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Sorted before you start
Free to start · Certified tax agent review included · From $88
Tick things off here, then let Tax Falcon's ATO pre-fill handle anything already on record
Hero Visual: “Your Pre-Lodgement Checklist” (illustrative mock-up)
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TFN & bank details — Ready
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Income statements — Ready
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Deduction receipts — 4 collected
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Private health info — Checked
Button (decorative, non-clickable): Start My Tax Return
Illustrative example only — your own checklist will depend on your situation.
Quick Answer (direct-answer callout)
Before you lodge, gather your TFN, bank details, income statements from every job, private health insurance details, and receipts for any work-related expenses. If you're a sole trader, property owner or investor, add your ABN and business records, rental income and expense statements, or dividend and contract note details for anything bought or sold. Tax Falcon's ATO pre-fill will bring in anything the ATO already holds, so this list is really about what's not automatic yet.
Everyone Needs This
The Core Checklist, Whatever Your Situation
These apply to every tax return, from a first-time student return to a complex investment portfolio.
Tax File Number (TFN)
Used to identify your tax record with the ATO.
Bank Account Details
BSB and account number for any refund to be paid.
Income Statements
PAYG summaries from every employer you worked for during the year.
Private Health Insurance
Your annual statement, if you hold private hospital cover.
myGov & ATO Details
Your myGov login isn't required to lodge with a registered agent, but handy to have.
Last Year's Notice of Assessment
Useful for carried-forward losses or amounts from a prior year.
Claiming Deductions
What to Gather for Deductions
Keep in mind: from 2025–26 you can claim a flat $1,000 with no receipts instead of itemising. Only gather this list if you're itemising because your expenses add up to more.
Work-Related Receipts
Uniforms, tools, equipment and other work-related purchases.
Vehicle Logbook or KM Estimate
A 12-week logbook, or your estimated work-related kilometres.
Working-From-Home Records
A diary or roster showing hours worked from home across the year.
Phone & Internet Bills
To work out the work-related percentage of your usage.
Self-Education Costs
Course fees, textbooks and related expenses connected to your current job.
Donation Receipts
Confirmation of any gifts of $2 or more to a registered charity.
Running a Business
Extra Records for Sole Traders
If you operate as a sole trader, add these to your core checklist.
ABN & Business Details
Your Australian Business Number and business structure.
Income & Expense Summary
A summary of everything invoiced and spent during the year.
GST & BAS Records
If registered for GST, your quarterly BAS lodgements.
Asset Purchase Records
Receipts for any equipment or assets bought for the business.
Property & Investments
Extra Records for Property and Investments
Own a rental property, shares, managed funds or crypto? Add these too.
Rental Income & Expense Statements
Annual summary from your property manager, plus loan interest statements.
Depreciation Schedule
If you have one prepared for a rental property.
Dividend & Distribution Statements
For any shares or managed funds you hold.
Buy & Sell Records
Contract notes or transaction history for anything bought or sold, including crypto.
âš This page groups Property and Investments into a single checklist section, rather than treating them as two separate categories. That's a third distinct pattern for the same ongoing question tracked across this session: the standalone product pages and the “How Tax Falcon Works” hub present Property and Investor as two separate $229 products; the Pricing page and some Homepage Redesign pricing cards present them (plus Sole Trader) as one bundled “Advanced” product; and this checklist page bundles just Property and Investments together while keeping Sole Trader as its own separate section above. Worth deciding on one consistent grouping across the site.
Getting Organised
Make Tax Time Easier Next Year
Use a dedicated folder
Physical or digital, keep everything for the year in one place as you go.
Photograph receipts immediately
Fading thermal receipts are unreadable within months — snap a photo the day you get them.
Keep records for five years
The ATO can request evidence for up to five years after you lodge.
Separate business and personal
If you're a sole trader, a separate bank account makes income and expenses much easier to track.
Why Tax Falcon
We Cut Down What You Need to Gather
ATO pre-fill included
Income statements, private health details and other ATO-held information are pulled in automatically, so this checklist is shorter than it looks.
Certified tax agent review
A certified tax agent reviews your return before it's lodged, checking your records support what you're claiming.
Keep Reading
Related Resources
The Complete Tax Deductions Guide (linked card)
What you can and can't claim, including the new $1,000 instant deduction.
→ /tax-deductions-guide-australia
Tax Return Dates & Deadlines 2026–27 (linked card)
The 31 October deadline, extensions and every date that matters.
Standard Tax Return — $88 (linked card)
See exactly what's included when you lodge with Tax Falcon.
✓ All three related-resource links here match URLs already confirmed elsewhere in this session — the Deductions Guide link matches that page's own canonical URL, the Dates & Deadlines link matches the same reference from the Deductions Guide page, and the Standard Tax Return link matches its confirmed product page. No new or conflicting URLs on this page.
Questions
Checklist FAQs
Do I need my myGov login to lodge with Tax Falcon?
No. As a registered tax agent, Tax Falcon lodges directly with the ATO on your behalf, so you don't need your myGov login or password.
What if I don't have all my receipts?
From 2025–26 you can claim a flat $1,000 deduction with no receipts at all. If your expenses add up to more than that, gather what you can, we'll help you work out what's still claimable.
Do I need last year's tax return to lodge this year?
It's not essential, but your prior year's Notice of Assessment is useful if you have carried-forward losses or amounts to bring into this year's return.
What if I'm missing an income statement from an employer?
Tax Falcon's ATO pre-fill can often pick up income statements directly from the ATO, even if you haven't received your own copy from the employer.
How far back do I need bank statements or receipts?
Generally just for the financial year you're lodging (1 July to 30 June), unless you're claiming something from a prior year.
Do sole traders need a separate checklist from employees?
Sole traders need everything on the core checklist, plus their ABN, business income and expense records, and GST/BAS records if registered.
Got Everything? Let's Get It Lodged.
Work through your checklist, then let Tax Falcon's ATO pre-fill and certified tax agent review take care of the rest.
From $88 for a standard return · No hidden fees