Lodging your own tax return through myTax is free and usually takes under 30 minutes for a straightforward return. Here's the process from start to finish.
Wait for pre-fill data
Most income data — employer income, bank interest, dividends, private health insurance details — is automatically pre-filled into myTax by mid-to-late July, sourced directly from employers and financial institutions. Lodging before pre-fill is complete increases the risk of errors.
Log in via myGov
Access myTax through your linked myGov account. If you haven't linked the ATO to your myGov account before, you'll need to do that first.
Review pre-filled income
Check the pre-filled data against your own records — payment summaries, bank statements, dividend statements — and add anything not automatically included, like cash income or overseas income.
Claim your deductions
Add work-related expenses, self-education costs, and donations. Keep records — the ATO can request evidence for any deduction claimed.
Review and submit
myTax shows an estimated outcome before you submit. Review it carefully, then lodge.
Receive your Notice of Assessment
The ATO typically processes electronic returns within about two weeks, issuing a Notice of Assessment confirming your refund or amount owing.
Know your numbers before you lodge.
Use the Tax Refund Calculator →Using a registered tax agent
If your situation is more complex — multiple income sources, capital gains, business income — a registered tax agent can lodge on your behalf and often gets an extended deadline beyond the standard 31 October date. See our ATO Tax Deadlines guide.
This is a general walkthrough of the standard process, not a substitute for myTax's own instructions. For complex situations, consider using a registered tax agent.