Tax deadline for self-lodgers is just over four weeks away
Self-lodged 2025-26 tax returns are due November 2; register with an accountant by October 31 for extended deadlines.
If you lodge your own tax return, you have about four weeks to meet the deadline. October 31 falls on a Saturday this year, so the ATO's weekend rule moves self-lodged returns to Monday, November 2.
Taxpayers who want to hire an accountant for later lodgment dates must be on their client list by Saturday, October 31 itself. Contact your accountant by Friday, October 30.
For the first time, around $21 billion in contractor payments will pre-fill into tax returns for about 700,000 sole traders and contractors in construction, cleaning, IT, courier and other industries. If you miss the self-lodger deadline, a penalty applies: $364 per 28 days late, up to $1,820.
Reconciling your records against what the ATO has prefilled takes time; do not rush it.
- November 2, 2026
- Self-lodger deadline
- October 31, 2026
- Accountant registration deadline
- Around 21 billion dollars
- Pre-fill contractor payments
- About 700,000
- Sole traders affected
Why it mattersMissing the self-lodger deadline costs money in penalties and draws ATO scrutiny. Hiring an accountant by October 31 buys you an extra six months without risk.
AustraliaSelf-employed Australians and contractors need to act this week or face penalties and potential disputes with the tax office over prefilled income data.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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