Before You Lodge Your Tax Return in 2026, Read This

Quick answer

Before you lodge your 2026 tax return, check that your income is complete, your ATO prefill information is ready, your deductions are supported, your receipts are kept, your bank details are correct, and you are not relying on the proposed $1,000 standard deduction.

That last one matters.

The proposed $1,000 standard deduction does not apply to your 2026 tax return.

So if you are about to lodge with missing income, guessed deductions, no receipts, or “she’ll be right” calculations, pause.

“She’ll be right” is not recognised tax software.

GoTax helps Australians complete their tax returns online, with returns checked by registered tax agents before lodgement.

Start your 2026 tax return online with GoTax

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Why you should not rush your tax return

Everyone wants their tax refund quickly.

Fair enough.

Groceries, rent, power bills and life in general have been acting like they discovered steroids.

But rushing your tax return can create problems.

If you lodge too early, you may miss:

• employer income

• bank interest

• dividends

• private health insurance details

• government payments

• managed fund distributions

• ABN income

• rental income

• capital gains

• other prefilled data

The ATO’s guide to pre-filling your online tax return explains that information is progressively added to tax returns, with most information sent to the ATO by late July.

So yes, you can start early.

But finalising too early can turn a simple refund into a later amendment, delay or ATO question.

Fast is good.

Fast and wrong is still wrong.

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1. Check your income statement is Tax ready

If you are an employee, check whether your income statement is marked Tax ready.

The ATO’s guidance on income statements that are not Tax ready says you should wait until your income statement is Tax ready before preparing and lodging your tax return, because amounts may change.

Most employers have until 14 July to finalise income statement data.

Before lodging, check:

• employer income

• tax withheld

• allowances

• reportable fringe benefits

• reportable employer super contributions

• salary sacrifice

• termination payments, if any

If the income statement is not Tax ready, wait.

You are not being slow.

You are avoiding future tax nonsense.

Very different things.

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2. Check ATO prefill is complete

ATO prefill can be helpful.

It is not magic.

It is information the ATO receives from employers, banks, government agencies, health insurers, share registries and other organisations.

The ATO’s pre-fill availability guidance explains that pre-fill data is available from 1 July, with most data finalised by the end of July. Some information can arrive later.

Before you lodge, check whether prefill has captured:

Income or detail	Why it matters
Wages and salary	Must match final employer reporting
Bank interest	Often forgotten
Dividends	Can include franking credits
Managed funds	May arrive later
Private health insurance	Can affect tax offset or surcharge
Government payments	May need to be declared
Super details	May affect deduction claims
Share disposals	May trigger capital gains
Crypto or platform income	May be data matched
Rental income	Must be complete

Do not assume missing prefill means missing tax obligation.

If you earned it, you may need to include it.

The ATO not showing it yet does not mean it never happened.

That excuse has a short shelf life.

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3. Check all income is included

Tax returns are not just about deductions.

Income matters first.

Before lodging your 2026 tax return, check for:

• wages

• salary

• allowances

• second jobs

• bank interest

• dividends

• managed fund distributions

• government payments

• ABN income

• contractor income

• rideshare income

• delivery income

• freelance income

• rental income

• short-stay accommodation income

• foreign income

• capital gains

• crypto gains

• trust distributions

• partnership income

Missing income can delay your refund, trigger an amendment, or create a tax debt later.

That is a poor outcome after spending three hours trying to claim $38 in stationery.

Do the big stuff first.

Then chase the little deductions.

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4. Check your deductions are real

Before lodging, run every deduction through the basic test.

The ATO’s guide on claiming deductions explains the broad rule: you generally need to have spent the money yourself, not been reimbursed, have a direct connection to earning income, and have records.

Use this simple table:

Question	If yes	If no
Did I pay for it?	Keep checking	Do not claim it
Was I reimbursed?	Usually do not claim	Keep checking
Was it work-related?	Keep checking	Do not claim it
Is any part private?	Apportion it	Keep checking
Do I have records?	Stronger claim	Be careful
Can I explain it?	Good	Problem

A deduction is not something you want to be true.

It is something you can support.

Tax law remains rude about this.

Read: What Tax Deductions Can You Claim in Australia in 2026?

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5. Check the $1,000 standard deduction does not apply to your return

This is one of the big 2026 traps.

The proposed $1,000 standard deduction for work-related expenses does not apply to your 2026 tax return.

Your 2026 return covers the year ending 30 June 2026.

The ATO’s what’s new for individuals page confirms that the proposed standard deduction for work-related expenses does not apply in the 2025–26 tax return.

So for 2026:

• keep receipts

• keep records

• claim actual eligible deductions

• do not assume $1,000 is automatic

• do not throw away deduction evidence

• do not let a headline prepare your tax return

Headlines are excellent at making noise.

Less impressive at surviving an ATO review.

Read:

$1,000 Tax Deduction 2026 Return?

Don’t Throw These Tax Receipts Away Yet

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6. Check your receipts and records

The ATO’s guide to records you need to keep explains that records are needed to support claims in your tax return.

Before lodging, check whether you have:

• receipts

• invoices

• bank statements

• credit card statements

• email confirmations

• diary entries

• logbooks

• odometer readings

• donation receipts

• membership statements

• insurance records

• subscription records

• phone bills

• internet bills

• working-from-home records

• rental property statements

• ABN income and expense records

A bank statement can help.

But it may not prove what you bought or why it was deductible.

“Bunnings $167” could be work tools.

It could also be mulch, fairy lights and an optimistic Saturday.

The ATO may want the boring details.

Read:

What Records Does the ATO Actually Accept in 2026?

Can You Claim Tax Deductions Without Receipts in 2026?

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7. Check work-from-home claims

If you claim working-from-home expenses, make sure the claim is properly supported.

The ATO’s working from home expenses guidance explains the available methods and record requirements.

For the 2025–26 income year, the fixed rate method is 70 cents per hour.

Before lodging, check:

• did you actually work from home?

• do you have records of hours?

• did you incur relevant expenses?

• are you double dipping costs covered by the fixed rate?

• are you claiming occupancy expenses incorrectly?

• have you separated private and work use?

Useful records may include:

• timesheets

• rosters

• diary entries

• calendar records

• employer records

• work logs

• home office bills

“Worked from home heaps” is not a record.

It is a feeling with Wi-Fi.

Read: What Is the 2026 Working From Home Fixed Rate?

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8. Check car expense claims

Car claims are one of the easiest places to make a mistake.

Before lodging, check whether the travel is genuinely work-related.

Ordinary travel from home to your regular workplace is usually private.

The ATO’s guide to trips you can and can’t claim explains which trips may be deductible.

Before lodging, check:

• did you exclude ordinary home-to-work travel?

• did you choose the correct method?

• did you avoid claiming fuel on top of cents per kilometre?

• do you have records of work kilometres?

• do you have a valid logbook if using the logbook method?

• were any costs reimbursed?

• did you separate private use?

For the 2025–26 income year, the cents per kilometre rate is 88 cents per eligible work kilometre, capped at 5,000 work-related kilometres per car.

The cap is not a free claim.

It is a limit.

Read:

Car Expense Tax Deductions Explained for 2026

Logbook vs Cents per Kilometre 2026

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9. Check phone and internet claims

Phone and internet deductions are common.

So are phone and internet mistakes.

Before lodging, check whether you have:

• phone bills

• internet bills

• call records

• data records

• usage diary

• work-use calculation

• employer communication records

If your phone and internet are partly private, only claim the work-related portion.

If you use the working-from-home fixed rate method, some phone and internet costs may already be covered.

Do not double dip.

The ATO is not fond of double dipping.

Unless it is chips.

Even then, probably suspicious.

Read: Mobile Phone & Internet Tax Deductions

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10. Check donation claims

Before lodging, check whether your donations qualify.

The ATO’s gifts and donations guidance explains the rules for deductible gifts.

You generally need to check:

• was the organisation a deductible gift recipient?

• was the gift usually $2 or more?

• did you receive a material benefit in return?

• do you have a receipt or evidence?

Common non-deductible payments include:

• raffle tickets

• fundraising chocolates

• charity auction items

• event tickets

• some crowdfunding payments

Generosity is nice.

Deductibility is picky.

Tax law has never been accused of being warm.

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11. Check tax agent fees

Tax agent fees are easy to miss because they usually relate to last year’s return.

The ATO’s cost of managing tax affairs guidance covers certain costs of managing your tax affairs, including registered tax agent fees.

Before lodging, check whether you paid for:

• prior year tax return preparation

• tax advice relating to your affairs

• registered tax agent fees

• tax-related correspondence assistance

• tax records or software where relevant

Keep invoices, payment records or bank records.

This deduction is not exciting.

It still counts.

Most useful deductions have the personality of a stapler.

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12. Check ABN and side income

If you earned income under an ABN, through rideshare, delivery, freelancing, contracting or side work, do not ignore it.

The ATO receives data from many sources.

Side income can be visible even when you think it is not.

Before lodging, check:

• invoices issued

• cash payments

• bank deposits

• platform income

• rideshare income

• delivery income

• marketplace income

• freelance income

• business expenses

• car expenses

• phone and internet use

• home office costs

• tools and equipment

• software subscriptions

Having an ABN does not make every expense deductible.

It makes record-keeping more important.

Read the GoTax ABN Tax Deductions Guide.

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13. Check rental property details

If you own a rental property, check income and expenses carefully before lodging.

Rental property claims are a common ATO review area.

Before lodging, check:

• rental income

• property manager statements

• short-stay accommodation income

• loan interest

• rates

• insurance

• repairs

• maintenance

• depreciation

• capital works

• private use

• holiday home use

• refinancing or redraw issues

Common mistakes include:

• claiming private-use periods

• treating improvements as repairs

• claiming full interest where borrowings are mixed

• missing short-term rental income

• poor record-keeping

Rental property claims can be very useful.

They can also be very wrong.

Sometimes in the same spreadsheet.

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14. Check personal super contribution deductions

If you made personal super contributions and want to claim a deduction, check the rules carefully.

The ATO’s 2026 myTax instructions for personal super contributions explain that you generally need to meet eligibility rules, lodge a valid notice of intent with your fund, and receive acknowledgement before claiming.

Before lodging, check:

• contribution amount

• date paid

• whether the fund received it

• notice of intent

• fund acknowledgement

• contribution caps

• whether any part was withdrawn or rolled over

• whether the deduction amount is correct

Do not guess this section.

Super mistakes can be deeply annoying.

Tax law apparently looked at super and said, “Let’s add paperwork.”

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15. Check bank details

Before lodging, check your bank details.

This is simple.

Which means it is exactly the kind of thing people get wrong.

Check:

• BSB

• account number

• account name

• closed accounts

• old accounts

• joint accounts

• spelling errors

• copied numbers

A tax refund sent to the wrong account is not a fun little adventure.

It is admin grief with a waiting period.

Take 30 seconds and check it.

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16. Check your refund expectation

Your refund is not guaranteed until the return is assessed.

A tax estimate is not money.

A draft return is not money.

A “surely I’ll get heaps back” feeling is definitely not money.

Refunds can change because of:

• HELP/HECS debt

• Medicare levy surcharge

• private health insurance details

• tax offsets

• missing income

• ATO debts

• child support debts

• incorrect deductions

• amended prefill data

• rental or investment details

• government payments

Before spending the refund in your head, wait until the assessment is complete.

Future you may appreciate not buying a television with imaginary tax money.

Read: Tax Refund 2026

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17. Check for common deduction mistakes

Before lodging, read your return like the ATO may read it.

Not emotionally.

Not generously.

Just technically.

Check for:

• private expenses

• guessed amounts

• missing records

• double dipping

• reimbursed costs

• old claims copied from last year

• ordinary clothing

• normal commuting

• unsupported car kilometres

• incorrect working-from-home hours

• phone and internet overclaims

• donations that are not deductible gifts

• missing income

The ATO may review deduction claims if something looks unusual, unsupported or inconsistent.

Read:

Common Tax Deduction Mistakes to Avoid in 2026

Why the ATO Reviews Tax Deduction Claims

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The final pre-lodgement checklist

Before you lodge your 2026 tax return, check:

Item	Checked?
Income statement is Tax ready
ATO prefill looks complete
All income is included
Bank interest included
Dividends and investments checked
ABN and side income included
Rental income included
Deductions are work-related
Private expenses removed
Reimbursed costs removed
Receipts and records kept
Car claims calculated properly
Working-from-home hours recorded
Phone and internet apportioned
Donations checked
Tax agent fees included where relevant
Super deduction rules checked
Bank details correct
Refund expectation realistic

If that list feels annoying, good.

It is doing its job.

Annoying before lodgement is better than painful after lodgement.

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How GoTax helps before you lodge

GoTax is built to make tax returns simple without leaving you alone with a tax system that seems to enjoy tiny traps.

You complete your tax return online.
You enter your income and deductions.
You work through plain-English questions.
Your return is checked by registered tax agents before lodgement.

That helps reduce:

• missed income

• missed deductions

• unsupported claims

• incorrect car expenses

• working-from-home errors

• phone and internet overclaims

• ABN mistakes

• refund surprises

The goal is not just to lodge quickly.

The goal is to lodge properly.

Fast is good.

Correct is better.

Fast and correct is the sweet spot. Rare in life. Useful in tax.

Start your 2026 tax return online with GoTax

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Frequently asked questions

What should I check before lodging my 2026 tax return?

Before lodging, check your income statement is Tax ready, ATO prefill is complete, all income is included, deductions are supported, records are kept, bank details are correct, and refund expectations are realistic.

Should I lodge my tax return as soon as possible?

Not always. Lodging too early can increase the risk of missing prefill information or income that has not yet been finalised.

When is ATO prefill usually complete?

ATO prefill information is available from 1 July, but most information is generally finalised by the end of July. Some information can arrive later.

What does Tax ready mean?

Tax ready means your employer has finalised your income statement information. You should generally wait until your income statement is Tax ready before lodging.

Can I lodge if my income statement is not Tax ready?

You can prepare information, but the ATO recommends waiting until your income statement is Tax ready because amounts may change.

Do I need receipts before lodging?

Yes, if you are claiming deductions, you generally need records to support those claims. Receipts, invoices, bank records, diaries, logbooks and written calculations may all be relevant.

Does the $1,000 standard deduction apply to my 2026 tax return?

No. The proposed $1,000 standard deduction does not apply to the 2026 tax return. Current deduction and record-keeping rules still apply.

Can GoTax help check my return before lodgement?

Yes. GoTax helps Australians complete their tax returns online, and returns are checked by registered tax agents before lodgement.

What happens if I lodge with missing income?

The ATO may delay processing, amend your return later, reduce your refund, issue a tax debt, or ask questions.

What is the safest way to lodge online?

Wait until your key income data is ready, check all income and deductions, keep records, avoid guessed claims, and use GoTax so your return is checked before lodgement.

What is the working-from-home fixed rate for the 2025-26 income year?

The ATO working-from-home fixed rate method for the 2025-26 income year is 70 cents per hour. You need records of hours worked from home such as timesheets, rosters or diary entries. Some phone and internet costs are already covered by the fixed rate, so do not double-dip those costs.

What is the cents per kilometre rate for car expenses in 2025-26?

The cents per kilometre rate for car expenses in the 2025-26 income year is 88 cents per eligible work kilometre, capped at 5,000 work-related kilometres per car. Ordinary home-to-work travel is generally not deductible. The cap is a limit, not a free 5,000-kilometre entitlement.

Why does the $1,000 standard deduction not apply to the 2026 tax return?

The proposed $1,000 standard deduction for work-related expenses has not been enacted to apply to the 2025-26 income year. The ATO confirms it does not apply to the 2026 return. You must still claim actual, eligible, documented deductions and retain your records.

Can I claim tax agent fees as a deduction on my 2026 tax return?

Yes. The cost of managing your tax affairs, including registered tax agent fees paid for your prior year return, may be deductible. Keep invoices and payment records. The fee paid to GoTax for preparing your 2025-26 return can generally be claimed as a deduction in your 2026-27 return.

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About the Author

Written by Mark Walmsley, Chartered Accountant and Registered Tax Agent.

GoTax helps Australians complete their tax returns online, with returns checked by registered tax agents before lodgement.

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General Information Disclaimer

This article provides general information only and does not take into account your personal circumstances. Tax law can change and deduction eligibility depends on your income, occupation, records and specific facts. If you are unsure, seek advice from a registered tax agent.