Late lodgment can result in penalties starting at $330 for returns 1-28 days overdue, increasing up to $1,650 for returns over 113 days late. The ATO may also apply interest charges on any tax owed and withhold refunds until your return is lodged. Contact the ATO promptly if you have valid reasons for delay.

Generally, you don’t need to lodge if your taxable income is below $18,200 and no tax was withheld from payments. However, you must lodge if tax was deducted from any payments during the year, even if your total income is below the threshold. Use the ATO’s online tool to confirm your specific obligation.

Yes, you can request an amendment through myGov online services or by submitting a paper amendment form to the ATO. Corrections can be made for mistakes, omissions, or if you receive additional income information after lodging. It’s best to amend promptly to avoid potential penalties or interest charges.

For the 2024–25 income year, the fixed rate is 70 cents per hour worked from home, which covers electricity, gas, internet, phone usage, and stationery. You must keep actual records of all hours worked from home during the year. The ATO does not accept estimates or representative samples of hours.

Track your tax return status through your myGov account linked to ATO online services, which provides real-time updates on processing progress. You can also use the ATO app on your mobile device for convenient status checking. Ensure your contact details are up to date to receive notifications about your return.