Still need to lodge your tax return? Your October 2026 plan

October is the time to choose how you will lodge your 2025-26 tax return. Check the weekend deadline rule, arrange an agent early and make room for a possible tax bill.

Published by Dolla Team on 2026-09-30.

Sources, dates and corrections follow Dolla's Editorial Standards.

Still need to lodge your tax return? Your October 2026 plan

If your 2025-26 tax return is still on the to-do list, October is a useful moment to make a decision: finish it yourself or arrange help. Leaving that choice until the final weekend can turn a manageable job into a scramble.

This month's priority is getting your return lodged correctly and understanding what happens to your cash afterwards. You do not need a new spending strategy or a last-minute purchase. You need a date, a clear way to lodge and a plan for the result.

Check the date that applies to you

The ATO's usual deadline for people lodging their own return is 31 October. Its guidance says that when this falls on a weekend, the lodgment deadline moves to the next business day. Because 31 October 2026 is a Saturday, that rule puts the standard self-lodgment deadline on Monday 2 November 2026. This date follows the ATO's published weekend rule. Source: ATO lodgment guidance.

The same guidance says to engage a registered tax agent before 31 October if you want to use one. Agents generally have different lodgment schedules, but ask yours to confirm your actual deadline. Do not assume the weekend extension gives you extra time to arrange an agent.

For a practical household target, aim to settle your arrangements well before Friday 30 October. That leaves room to resolve missing information while offices are open.

Choose the help you actually need

For a straightforward return, the ATO's free myTax service may be enough. You access it through a myGov account linked to the ATO. Pre-filled information still needs checking, and missing income needs adding. ASIC Moneysmart explains how online lodgment works.

Before committing to doing it yourself, write down anything you cannot confidently explain. A first investment sale, unfamiliar overseas income or a new business might leave you with questions that deserve professional help. The useful test is whether you understand the entries you are about to submit.

If you pay someone, check their registration and any conditions in the Tax Practitioners Board register. A BAS agent's registration alone does not authorise them to prepare and lodge income tax returns. The TPB's guide to finding and using a tax practitioner explains the distinction.

Agree on the work, timing, fees and where any refund will go before proceeding. Ask the agent what documents they need and when. Put those dates in your calendar alongside the lodgment date so that handing over the paperwork does not become the next unfinished task.

Give yourself one focused review session

Set aside an uninterrupted block of time and open the return alongside your records. Check that the information tells the same story as your year: employers, bank interest, investments and any other income sources.

Moneysmart cautions that a bank or credit card statement by itself generally does not provide enough evidence for a deduction. Keep the supporting receipts and your calculation of any claim. You remain responsible for your return even when an agent prepares it. Source: Moneysmart's tax return guide.

Keep a short list of unresolved questions rather than guessing to get the task finished. Give each one a next action, such as requesting a statement or asking your agent to explain an entry.

Plan for a bill as well as a refund

Treat the lodgment date and payment date as separate diary entries. Check the payment date on your assessment instead of assuming you must pay on the day you submit. If meeting your obligations is difficult, contact the ATO early; payment arrangements may be available. Source: ATO lodgment and payment guidance.

For your own planning, work backwards from the actual payment date. Suppose your assessed bill is A$1,200 and four paydays remain before it is due. That means setting aside A$300 per payday, if your budget can support it. This is a budgeting example, not an ATO payment plan or an extension of your due date.

If a refund is expected, keep it out of your available spending money until it arrives. You can still decide its purpose in advance, such as an upcoming insurance premium or replenishing savings, without making purchases against an estimate.

One useful action today

Book your tax-return session or contact a registered agent this week. Then add a second reminder to check the assessment and its payment details. Two clear actions now can keep tax admin from colliding with the spending pressures at the end of the year.

Information checked on 1 October 2026. This article provides general information; confirm the requirements for your circumstances with the ATO or a registered tax agent.