Do Your Tax Return Online in Minutes – How GoTax Works

Written by Mark Walmsley CA — Chartered Accountant and Registered Tax Agent (TPB 25498770)

Last updated 11 May 2026

Most GoTax users complete their tax return in under 10 minutes. GoTax is an ATO-registered online tax service — your return is prepared through a plain-English question flow, pre-filled with ATO data, and reviewed by a Chartered Accountant before lodgement. Fixed pricing from $0.

How GoTax Works — Four Steps

1. Create an account at www.gotax.com.au — takes about 60 seconds.

2. Select your occupation — GoTax surfaces the deductions that apply to your specific job automatically.

3. Answer plain-English questions — GoTax securely accesses your ATO pre-fill data (income, PAYG summaries, government payments) so you're not starting from scratch.

4. Review and submit — a Chartered Accountant checks your return before it goes to the ATO. Most refunds arrive within 10 business days.

What GoTax Covers

A GoTax return handles all standard Australian individual income tax scenarios:

Income — wages, salary, Centrelink payments, investment income, side income, ABN income

Deductions — work-related expenses, vehicle, travel, home office, tools, uniforms, self-education

Offsets — low income tax offset, senior and pensioner offset, private health insurance rebate

Specialised returns — ABN holders, contractors, rideshare drivers, rental property owners, small business operators

GoTax vs Traditional and DIY Options

Security and Privacy

GoTax is ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified — the international standard for information security management. Your data is encrypted in transit and at rest, stored on Australian servers, and never shared with third parties.

GoTax is not affiliated with the ATO and does not share your information beyond what is required for lodgement. You can review the GoTax Privacy Policy at any time.

How Much Does It Cost?

All prices are fixed and all-inclusive — specialty return prices cover the comprehensive individual income tax return. There are no add-on fees, no hourly billing, and no charges for ATO correspondence. First-time lodgers under 21 qualify for a free return through the Tax Virgins program.

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast is GoTax?

Most users complete their return in under 10 minutes. Completion time depends on the complexity of your return — a simple salary-only return with a handful of deductions typically takes 5–8 minutes. More complex returns with rental properties or ABN income may take 15–20 minutes.

Is GoTax safe?

Yes. GoTax holds ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification for information security management and uses ATO-grade encryption on all data. Your information is stored on Australian servers and processed only by GoTax staff. GoTax is registered with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB Registration 25498770) and is subject to TPB professional obligations.

Can GoTax access my ATO pre-fill data?

Yes — with your permission. GoTax connects to the ATO's pre-fill service to pull your income statements, PAYG summaries, bank interest, and government payment data directly. This reduces data entry and the risk of missing income items. The ATO explains the pre-fill service at ato.gov.au.

Can anyone use GoTax?

Yes. GoTax handles individual returns from straightforward salary-and-wages returns through to ABN, contractor, rental property, rideshare, and small business returns. Whether it's your first return or your fortieth, the system guides you through with occupation-matched questions and built-in help at every step.

What if I need help during my return?

GoTax provides live chat, built-in help guides, and red-alert prompts throughout the return process. If your question can't be resolved in-app, you can contact GoTax directly via the contact form and a registered tax agent will respond.

What happens after I submit?

A GoTax Chartered Accountant reviews your completed return before it is lodged with the ATO. If anything needs clarifying, GoTax contacts you before lodgement — not after. Once lodged, the ATO typically processes electronically-submitted returns and issues refunds within 10 business days.

Want to know your refund before you start? Use the free GoTax Tax Calculator for an instant estimate.

Mark Walmsley CA is a Chartered Accountant and Registered Tax Agent with 40 years of Australian tax practice experience. He holds a Bachelor of Business (Accountancy) and a Graduate Diploma of Taxation, and is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. Mark is the principal of GoTax and the Registered Tax Agent responsible for all GoTax-lodged returns (TPB Registration 25498770). Every tax return submitted through GoTax is finalised under his registration — no outsourcing, no offshore processing.

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.