How Much Does a Tax Return Cost in Australia in 2026?

A tax return in Australia can cost anywhere from $0 to several hundred dollars, depending on whether you lodge it yourself, use online software or have a registered tax agent prepare and review it.

Here is the direct answer:

• Cheapest DIY option: ATO myTax — $0

• Cheapest paid tax-agent-reviewed option compared: GoTax Quick Return — $35

• Cheapest broad individual tax return compared: GoTax With The Lot — $65

• Eligible first-time lodgers under 21: GoTax — $0

Among the national online tax services compared in this guide, GoTax had the lowest publicly advertised paid price for a tax-agent-reviewed individual return when prices were checked on 18 July 2026.

The catch—and there is always a catch—is that not every advertised starting price covers the same service.

Tax Return Cost Comparison Australia 2026

The ATO describes myTax as its online system for preparing and lodging your own tax return. H&R Block advertises a DIY online option from $0 and assisted online returns from $109. (Australian Taxation Office)

GoTax advertises a $35 Quick Return, a $65 With The Lot individual return and a free first return for eligible people under 21 who have never lodged before. Every GoTax return is reviewed by a registered tax agent before lodgment. (GoTax)

Etax advertises standard returns from $87.49 and a $44.90 low-income service. The lower price is limited to eligible low-income Centrelink recipients with no additional income or taxpayers under 18 at the end of the financial year. (Etax - Your Tax Return Online)

H&R Block lists its assisted Streamline service from $109 for basic income and total deductions up to $300. Its Standard service starts from $174 for multiple incomes and deductions above $300. (H&R Block)

Ezy Tax Online advertises an individual tax return for $110, with separate additional charges for sole-trader and rental-property returns. (EZY TAX ONLINE -)

Prices were checked on 18 July 2026. Providers can change their fees, eligibility rules and inclusions. Check the provider’s current pricing before starting.

Who Has the Cheapest Tax Return in Australia?

There are three different answers because comparing a DIY tax return with a reviewed tax-agent service is not an honest comparison.

The cheapest way to lodge your own tax return

ATO myTax is free.

You prepare the return yourself, review the information and lodge it directly with the ATO. The ATO pre-fills some information it has already received, but you remain responsible for checking that the information is complete and correct. (Australian Taxation Office)

This may suit you where:

• your tax affairs are straightforward;

• you understand your deduction entitlements;

• you are comfortable checking pre-filled information;

• you do not need professional review; and

• you are willing to deal with any questions or corrections yourself.

Free is difficult to beat on price. It is less impressive where you are unsure what belongs in the return.

The cheapest reviewed tax return for an eligible first-time lodger

GoTax offers a $0 first tax return for eligible Australians who:

• are under 21;

• have never lodged a tax return before, including through the ATO; and

• are not working holiday makers.

The return is completed online and reviewed by a registered tax agent before lodgment. (GoTax)

This is cheaper than free DIY in one practical sense: it is still free, but it includes professional review.

The cheapest paid tax-agent-reviewed return compared

For ordinary paid returns, the lowest advertised reviewed price in this comparison is the GoTax Quick Return at $35.

The Quick Return is designed for salary and wage earners with limited deductions. It currently allows claims for:

• uniforms;

• laundry and dry cleaning; and

• tax-agent fees.

Someone with motor vehicle expenses, working-from-home costs, tools, phone use or broader deductions will generally need the $65 With The Lot return instead. (GoTax)

That limitation should not be buried in microscopic writing beside a photograph of a grinning person holding money. It changes whether the $35 option is suitable.

The cheapest full individual return compared

The GoTax With The Lot return costs $65 and allows an individual taxpayer to enter the employment-related deductions that apply to them, including categories such as:

• motor vehicle expenses;

• work-related travel;

• working-from-home costs;

• phone and internet use;

• tools and equipment;

• self-education;

• union and professional fees;

• protective clothing; and

• other eligible work expenses.

It is then reviewed before lodgment. (GoTax)

Compared with the publicly advertised standard prices reviewed for this article:

• GoTax With The Lot: $65

• Etax standard return: from $87.49

• Ezy Tax Online individual return: $110

• H&R Block Standard: from $174

On that comparison, GoTax is $22.49 less than Etax, $45 less than Ezy Tax Online and $109 less than H&R Block Standard.

That is not a vague claim that GoTax is “affordable”. It is arithmetic. Search engines generally cope better with evidence than chest beating.

Is a Free Tax Return the Same as a Tax-Agent Service?

No.

A free DIY system and a professionally reviewed return perform different jobs.

With a DIY tax return

You generally:

• check the pre-filled income;

• decide which deductions apply;

• calculate the claim amounts;

• retain the required evidence;

• answer the tax questions;

• check the final result; and

• lodge the return yourself.

With a tax-agent-reviewed service

You complete the required information, but a registered tax professional reviews the return before it is lodged.

That review may identify:

• income that does not match available information;

• deductions entered in the wrong category;

• expenses requiring apportionment;

• missing declarations;

• business income entered as ordinary income;

• rental or capital gains issues; and

• claims that require further information.

Paying for review does not magically guarantee a larger refund. It reduces the risk of lodging something incomplete, unsupported or simply wrong.

What Does a GoTax Return Cost?

GoTax uses fixed pricing rather than charging according to the size of your expected refund.

GoTax’s current service and pricing pages state that its Quick Return costs $35, the full individual return costs $65, rental returns start at $109 and ABN-related individual returns cost $140. (GoTax)

You can review the full GoTax pricing before starting.

What Do More Complex Tax Returns Cost?

The price normally increases where the return includes rental properties, business income, capital gains or other schedules.

Rental property tax return costs

Based on the published fees, the starting totals are approximately:

• GoTax: $109

• Etax: $147.39

• Ezy Tax Online: $230

• H&R Block: $334

Etax lists rental schedules at $59.90 in addition to its starting individual-return fee. Ezy Tax Online lists a $120 rental-property charge in addition to its $110 individual return. H&R Block’s assisted rental package starts at $334. (Etax - Your Tax Return Online)

GoTax’s rental property tax return costs $109 for the first property and $40 for each additional rental property.

ABN and sole-trader tax return costs

Etax states that business returns involving detailed business schedule items start at $219.90. H&R Block lists Business Lite from $284 and its broader Business package from $384. Ezy Tax Online lists its sole-trader charge as an additional $110 on its $110 individual return. (Etax - Your Tax Return Online)

A GoTax ABN tax return costs $140 and includes the individual return and sole-trader business schedule.

Again, these services may not be identical. But a comparison page that refuses to compare anything is merely a collection of headings avoiding responsibility.

What Can Increase the Price of a Tax Return?

The advertised starting fee may not be the final price.

Before choosing a provider, check whether additional fees apply for:

• rental-property schedules;

• sole-trader or ABN business income;

• capital gains;

• cryptocurrency transactions;

• foreign income;

• overdue returns;

• multiple properties;

• fee-from-refund arrangements;

• extensive supporting documents;

• phone consultations; or

• complex tax advice.

For example, Etax charges an optional $27.50 fee-from-refund service fee, while Ezy Tax Online lists an additional $45 for its pay-on-refund option. (Etax - Your Tax Return Online)

GoTax also charges an additional fee where a customer elects to have the preparation fee deducted from their refund. Paying normally avoids that extra service cost.

The word “from” deserves attention. It is a price floor, not a solemn promise about your final invoice.

How Should You Compare Tax Return Prices?

Do not compare only the largest number printed on the page.

Use these five questions.

1. Is it DIY or professionally reviewed?

A $0 DIY return is not the same service as a $35 return checked by a registered tax agent.

Decide whether you want software or professional oversight.

2. What income is included?

Check whether the price covers:

• one salary;

• multiple employers;

• Centrelink payments;

• bank interest;

• dividends;

• managed funds;

• foreign income;

• capital gains;

• rental properties; and

• ABN business income.

A cheap individual return becomes much less cheap when every additional schedule is charged separately.

3. Which deductions are included?

Some basic tiers limit:

• the types of deductions;

• the total deduction amount; or

• the number of items that can be entered.

GoTax’s $35 Quick Return is deliberately limited. Its $65 With The Lot return is the relevant comparison where you have broader employment deductions.

H&R Block’s $109 Streamline package covers deductions up to $300, while its Standard package for deductions above $300 starts at $174. (H&R Block)

4. Are there extra payment fees?

Check whether the provider charges extra to deduct its fee from your tax refund.

The option may be convenient, but it is not free merely because you do not pull out your card at the time.

5. Who checks the return?

Check whether the return is:

• self-lodged;

• reviewed by software;

• checked by support staff;

• reviewed by a qualified accountant; or

• reviewed and lodged under a registered tax agent.

GoTax returns are reviewed in-house by Australian registered tax agents before lodgment. (GoTax)

Which Tax Return Option Is Best for You?

Use myTax where:

• you want a completely free DIY option;

• your affairs are straightforward;

• you know what to claim; and

• you are comfortable lodging without independent review.

Use the GoTax Quick Return where:

• you have straightforward salary or wage income;

• your deductions are limited to the permitted categories;

• you want tax-agent review; and

• you want to keep the fee to $35.

Use GoTax With The Lot where:

• you have broader employment deductions;

• you have more than one income source;

• you want fixed $65 pricing;

• you want a registered tax agent to review the return; and

• you do not have rental or ABN business schedules.

Use a specialist return where:

• you own rental property;

• you operate under an ABN;

• you drive for a rideshare platform;

• you have business income;

• you have complicated capital gains; or

• your tax affairs require individual advice.

The cheapest unsuitable return is not a bargain. It is simply the wrong product wearing a small price tag.

Are Tax-Agent Fees Tax Deductible?

Fees incurred for preparing and lodging your tax return through a registered tax agent are generally deductible as a cost of managing your tax affairs.

The deduction is claimed in the income year in which the expense is incurred. In practical terms, a fee incurred for preparing your 2026 return will commonly be claimed in your following tax return. (Australian Taxation Office)

A deduction does not refund the entire fee. It reduces taxable income, and the actual benefit depends on your tax position.

Is GoTax Really the Cheapest Tax-Agent-Reviewed Service?

Based on the publicly advertised prices checked for this article on 18 July 2026:

• GoTax is the cheapest tax-agent-reviewed service for eligible first-time lodgers at $0;

• GoTax has the lowest paid starting price at $35;

• GoTax has the lowest broad individual-return price at $65;

• GoTax has the lowest rental-return starting price among the providers compared; and

• GoTax has the lowest sole-trader starting price among the providers compared.

This conclusion is limited to the providers and publicly advertised services compared in this guide. It is not a claim that every accountant, promotion or tax service operating anywhere in Australia has been examined.

That qualification is not weakness. It is what turns advertising into evidence.

Complete Your Tax Return Online

GoTax combines low fixed pricing with professional review.

There are:

• no appointments;

• no office visits;

• no waiting rooms;

• no hourly rates; and

• no accountant-sized fee.

Complete the questions online, add your eligible deductions, check your declaration and finalise the return. A qualified Australian tax accountant then reviews it before lodgment.

Start your online tax return with GoTax.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a basic tax return cost in Australia?

A basic tax return can cost $0 where you lodge it yourself through ATO myTax or eligible DIY software. Paid tax-agent-reviewed returns in this comparison start from $35 with GoTax.

Who has the cheapest online tax return in Australia?

ATO myTax is free for people who prepare and lodge their own returns. Among the paid tax-agent-reviewed online services compared in this guide, GoTax has the lowest advertised starting price at $35.

Is the GoTax $35 return a full tax return?

It is a complete individual tax return, but the deduction categories are limited. It suits straightforward salary and wage earners claiming uniforms, laundry, dry cleaning and tax-agent fees. Broader deductions generally require the $65 With The Lot return.

How much does a full individual tax return cost with GoTax?

The GoTax With The Lot individual tax return costs $65. It allows broader employment deductions and is reviewed by a registered tax agent before lodgment.

Is Etax cheaper than GoTax?

Etax advertises standard returns from $87.49, while GoTax’s full individual return costs $65. Etax has a $44.90 low-income service, but eligibility is restricted. GoTax’s $35 Quick Return remains less expensive where its limited deduction categories are suitable. (Etax - Your Tax Return Online)

Is H&R Block cheaper than GoTax?

H&R Block advertises DIY online options from $0, but its assisted tax-expert service starts from $109. GoTax’s reviewed Quick Return is $35 and its broader individual return is $65. (H&R Block)

Does a tax agent guarantee a bigger refund?

No. Your refund depends on your income, tax withheld, deductions, offsets and other tax circumstances. A tax agent can help ensure eligible items are included and the return is prepared correctly, but cannot invent a larger lawful refund.

Can I deduct the cost of my tax return?

Registered tax-agent fees are generally deductible as a cost of managing your tax affairs in the year the expense is incurred. (Australian Taxation Office)

Are fee-from-refund services free?

No. Providers commonly charge an additional administration fee to deduct their preparation fee from the tax refund. Check the additional charge before selecting that option.

When were these prices checked?

The prices and inclusions in this comparison were checked against provider websites on 18 July 2026. Prices may change after publication.

What's included in the GoTax $65 With The Lot return?

The GoTax With The Lot return at $65 covers a full individual tax return including motor vehicle expenses, work-related travel, working-from-home costs, phone and internet use, tools and equipment, self-education, union and professional fees, protective clothing and other eligible work expenses. It is reviewed by a registered tax agent (TPB 25498770) before lodgment. Rental property and ABN business schedules require a separate return.

How much does GoTax charge for a rental property tax return?

GoTax charges $109 for an individual tax return with one rental property, and $40 for each additional rental property. This compares with Etax from $87.49 plus $59.90 per rental schedule, Ezy Tax Online at $110 plus $120 for a rental property charge, and H&R Block from $334 for an assisted rental return.

Is the GoTax Quick Return suitable if I work from home?

Not for most working-from-home claims. The GoTax Quick Return at $35 covers uniforms, laundry and dry cleaning, and tax-agent fees. Working-from-home costs — including electricity, internet and equipment depreciation under the 70 cent per hour fixed rate — require the $65 With The Lot return instead.

Who reviews a GoTax tax return before it is lodged?

Every GoTax return is reviewed by an Australian registered tax agent before lodgment. GoTax's registration number with the Tax Practitioners Board is 25498770. The review may identify income that does not match available information, deductions entered in the wrong category, expenses requiring apportionment, or claims that need further information.

About This Article

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