Waiting for your tax return can be frustrating, especially if you’re expecting a good return and can’t wait to spend your money. If you’ve been checking your bank account religiously, wondering “when will I get my tax refund,” we’ve got you covered with all the latest details on tax refund turnaround times. Read on to learn the usual tax refund times, along with all the reasons yours might be delayed.
In Australia, it usually doesn’t take that long to get your tax refund. The Australian Tax Office (ATO) issues most within 12 working days. However, if you lodged your tax return yourself, it can take up to 50 working days.
If you’ve been waiting longer than this, there’s no need to panic. There are plenty of reasons the ATO might have delayed your tax return. Let’s take a look at the most common ones.
Why Is My Tax Return Taking So Long?
Your refund might be taking a scenic route through the tax system for various reasons. From simple spelling mistakes to the ATO’s equivalent of a random breath test (yes, random audits are a thing), here are the most common reasons for delays:
- Simple errors: Something as simple as misspelling your name or mistyping your date of birth can slow things down.
- Incorrect bank details: It’s always worth checking that the ATO has the correct bank details for you, as this simple oversight can cause delays.
- Late tax returns: If you have recently lodged returns for previous years, either on their own or with the current year’s tax return, this can cause delays as everything has to be caught up.
- Early tax return: Lodging your return on July 1st may seem like a good idea, but the ATO doesn’t start processing until July 6th. This can lead to delays, especially if you lodged before you had all the requisite information.
- Outstanding debts: If you owe money to the ATO or other government agencies, your refund may be held until the debt is settled.
- Standard checks: The ATO may need to check information with other Australian Government agencies, such as Centrelink or Child Support Program.
- Incorrect or missing information: Errors in your tax return, such as incorrect bank account details or missing information, can delay processing.
- Discrepancies in declared income: If the ATO has received income details that differ from what you declared, this can hold up your refund.
- Unusual claims: If you’ve claimed large or unusual deductions or credits, the ATO may need to verify the information.
- ATO review or audit: Some people just get lucky each year and are chosen for an audit.
- ATO delays in processing tax returns: Updates to tax legislation or ATO systems can sometimes cause delays that don’t relate specifically to your tax return.
What Can I Do About My Delayed Tax Refund?
Chasing a delayed tax refund is about as fun as going in for a root canal, but there are practical steps you can take while the ATO does its thing. Here’s what our accountants recommend:
- Wait 30 Days: Give the ATO a solid month to process your return. We know watching the calendar isn’t thrilling, but it’s the standard processing window.
- Check myGov: Your myGov account might hold clues about your refund’s whereabouts. Pop in there first—it’s quicker than calling.
- Talk to Your Tax Agent: If you’ve got one, they’re your inside connection. While we accountants can’t wave a magic wand to speed things up, we do know the system and can translate any ATO-speak coming your way.
- Ring the ATO: After 30 days of radio silence, it’s reasonable to call the ATO if you don’t have an accountant to advocate for you. Contact them through their website, app, or hotline. Pro tip: morning calls often mean shorter wait times.
A couple of pro tax tips:
- One query is enough: One call to the ATO could help you iron out a problem, but multiple calls won’t make your refund arrive faster. It’s like pushing the lift button repeatedly—you feel like you’re achieving something, but it’s really just pointless noise.
- Embrace the waiting game: The ATO processes millions of returns. Think of it as being stuck in a very long, very boring queue at a very slow bank. Only you get to keep living your life while you’re in said boring queue. So, it’s really not as bad as it could be.
Stay cool, keep your phone handy, and remember: your refund is coming. The ATO hasn’t forgotten about you or your money.
How Can I Get My Tax Refund Quickly?
The fastest way to get your tax refund in Australia is to lodge an accurate return with complete documentation through a registered tax agent. That way, your tax professional can ensure all details—from spelling to bank numbers—are correct. Most straightforward returns are processed by the ATO within 5-12 business days.
At ITP, our process starts with a thorough review of your details—think of it as your tax return’s pre-flight checklist. We’re meticulous about everything from basic spelling to documentation, helping you claim every legitimate deduction while keeping things kosher with the ATO.
Your tax agent might need to chat with you during this review stage. A quick response from you helps keep things moving—the ball is momentarily in your court, as they say.
Once we’ve dotted all i’s and crossed all t’s, we lodge your return with the ATO. We find their processing almost always falls snugly within that 5-12 working day range. However, after finalisation, it may take up to 3 working days before the money lands in your nominated bank account.
A Gentle Warning: Getting your refund doesn’t mean you’re in the clear audit-wise. The ATO has a two-year window to audit returns, so store your documentation somewhere sensible (not that shoebox under your bed).
What If I Made A Mistake On My Tax Return?
It can be horrifying to realise you’ve made a mistake on your tax return. But the good news is, errors are usually fixable within two years of lodgement, whether you filed solo or through a tax agent.
If you’ve spotted a mistake, take a deep breath and wait for your original return to be processed first. The ATO needs to complete their initial assessment before they’ll look at any changes. Once you’ve got your notice of assessment, your ITP tax agent can help file an amendment.
The amendment process typically takes 4–10 weeks—roughly the time it takes to grow a decent herb garden. During this period, the ATO will review your changes and recalculate your tax position. This might result in you owing more tax (ouch) or receiving an additional refund (champagne time).
Common mistakes worth fixing include:
- Forgotten deductions or income
- Incorrect payment summaries
- Missing Medicare levy exemptions
- Bank account detail errors
- Mistakes in work-related expenses
For a deeper dive into handling tax return mistakes and when you absolutely need to correct them, check out our comprehensive, up-to-date guide: How To Amend A Mistake On Your Tax Return.
What Tax Refund Can I Expect?
Just as no two taxpayers have identical sock drawers, no two tax returns are exactly the same either. Your refund amount depends on various factors, including your income level, tax bracket, deductions claimed, and whether you’ve had enough tax withheld throughout the year.
Common claims and deductions that can boost your tax refund include:
- Work-related expenses like uniforms, tools, or professional development
- Investment deductions
- Charitable donations
- Home office expenses
- Vehicle expenses for work purposes
- Private health insurance rebates
On the flip side, these might reduce your refund or create a debt:
- Insufficient tax withheld by employers
- Multiple jobs without the proper tax-free threshold arrangements
- Investment income
- Government payments without enough tax withheld
- Capital gains from selling assets
If you’re worried you’re paying too much tax, an ITP tax agent can walk through all possible deductions and give you a solid estimate of your likely refund. Want a quick idea of what your potential refund might be? Try ITP’s easy-to-use Tax Calculator. While it won’t capture every nuance of your tax situation (it’s a calculator, not a crystal ball), it will use your basic financial information to estimate your tax rate, obligations, and projected refund. This can help you set realistic expectations before your appointment.
When Do I Need To Lodge My Tax Return By?
Tax returns for each financial year can be lodged from July 1st, though the ATO doesn’t start processing them until July 6th. This five-day buffer gives employers time to finalise those all-important PAYG summaries and lets the ATO’s software warm up its fraud detection muscles.
Your deadline is October 31st, and the ATO takes this date rather seriously. Miss it, and you might face failure to lodge on time (FTL) penalties—yes, even if they owe you money. That’s like paying a speeding ticket while driving to collect a lottery win. Thankfully, a registered tax agent can help you avoid fees and penalties.
If you want to receive your tax return early, here are some smart ways to get ahead:
- Gather your documents throughout the year (future you will be grateful)
- Book your tax appointment early (remembering July and August get busy quickly for tax agents)
- Check your myGov account for pre-filled information
- Keep your receipts organised (that shoebox system isn’t fooling anyone)
- If you think you’ll have a significant tax return, it’s always best to speak with a financial advisor about investments. ITP offer financial planning and SMSF advice to take the stress out of tax season for you.Â
Filing your return with a registered tax agent will take the confusion out of the process and help you file a more accurate return. We can also help you find tax deductions you may not even realise you’re eligible to make.
DOWNLOAD THIS ARTICLE: How Long Does It Take to Get a Tax Refund in Australia
Expert Help Is Just A Phone Call Away
With over 240 offices across Australia serving more than 200,000 clients annually, we’ve seen enough tax returns to wallpaper the Sydney Opera House several times over. Our 50 years in the business means we’ve encountered every tax situation imaginable—from the perfectly straightforward to the sort that makes even seasoned accountants reach for their third cup of coffee.
Whether you’re a PAYG employee wondering about work-from-home deductions, a small business owner drowning in receipts, or someone wondering why your tax refund is taking so long, we’ve got your back. Our services go beyond just tax returns—we’re your one-stop shop for bookkeeping, financial planning, and year-round tax advice.
And here’s the best bit: our accountants understand that tax talk can be as fun as wet socks and as clear as mud. So, we keep the human element alive in our appointments, explaining everything in terms that won’t make your head spin. Plus, we’re rather good at finding those extra deductions that can turn a modest refund into something worth celebrating.
Ready to take the stress out of tax time? Drop by your local ITP office, give us a call, or book an appointment online. Our friendly tax professionals are standing by, calculators at the ready, to help turn your tax headache into tax happiness. After all, life’s too short to worry about tax returns.