Tax Time 2026: What Every Tax Professional Needs to Know

Tax time is here again, and the 2025–26 income year brings several important changes. Some rules have shifted, compliance scrutiny has increased, and a few widely discussed measures do not yet apply. Here is a clear, practical guide to help tax professionals prepare accurate and timely returns for their clients.

Wait Before You Lodge — Pre-Fill Data Is Worth It

Every tax time, the temptation to lodge early is strong. However, the ATO strongly advises against it. Pre-fill data — including wages, bank interest, government payments, and trust distributions — becomes available from late July 2026.

Lodging before this data populates increases the risk of errors significantly. In fact, the previous tax year produced more than 600,000 amendments because taxpayers lodged too early. That is a significant administrative burden for both clients and their tax agents.

Therefore, the most straightforward advice is this: gather all documentation, but hold off on lodging until at least the end of July. The small wait saves considerable time later.

The $1,000 Instant Deduction Does Not Apply This Tax Time

Much has been discussed publicly about a proposed $1,000 instant standard deduction for work-related expenses. It is essential that tax professionals communicate this clearly to their clients: this measure does not apply to 2025–26 returns.

If legislated, the $1,000 instant deduction will only take effect from the 2026–27 income year. Consequently, claiming it this year would be incorrect and could trigger an ATO review.

Do not apply the $1,000 instant deduction to 2025–26 returns.The standard three-rules process for work-related expense claims continues to apply without any change this year.

The Three Rules Still Apply

For any work-related deduction, the taxpayer must satisfy all three conditions. First, the expense must directly connect to earning assessable income. Second, the taxpayer must have personally incurred it without reimbursement. Third, they must hold records that substantiate the claim.

These rules have not changed. Clients who have heard otherwise — particularly from social media or AI-generated advice — should be corrected promptly. The ATO has specifically warned against “finfluencer” guidance this tax time.

Tax Time Rule Changes That Apply Right Now

Two targeted legislative changes take effect for the 2025–26 income year. Both require attention when preparing client returns.

GIC and SIC Are No Longer Deductible

Previously, clients could claim the General Interest Charge (GIC) and Shortfall Interest Charge (SIC) as tax deductions. That has now changed. Any GIC or SIC incurred on or after 1 July 2025 is no longer deductible. This applies to the 2025–26 return and all future returns.

Accordingly, tax professionals should review client accounts for any such charges and ensure they are not included in deduction schedules. Clients who have historically claimed these amounts will need to be advised of the change.

The $2 Minimum for Charitable Donations Is Gone

On a more positive note, the ATO has removed the $2 minimum threshold for donations to Deductible Gift Recipients (DGRs). Previously, a donation had to reach at least $2 to be claimable. From 2025–26 onwards, any amount donated to an eligible DGR is deductible, regardless of size.

This is a small but meaningful change for clients who make modest charitable contributions throughout the year.

Trust Reporting: A New Era Begins This Tax Time

Trust taxation is undergoing a significant shift. For the first time, the ATO will pre-fill trust distribution data for individual beneficiaries directly in their tax returns. This is a welcome development that should simplify the lodgement process — but it also creates new obligations for trustees.

What Trustees Must Do Before Tax Time

To ensure pre-fill data flows correctly, trustees must confirm that every individual beneficiary has provided their Tax File Number (TFN) before any distributions are made. Additionally, trustees must provide enhanced distribution statements containing the specific information the ATO requires to populate pre-fill fields accurately.

Incomplete or missing TFN data will delay beneficiaries’ returns and may result in errors or amendments downstream. Tax professionals advising trustees should act on this well before their clients begin lodging.

Note for practitioners: Review trust distribution statements for completeness now. Do not wait until late July to discover gaps in TFN data or statement content.

Where the ATO Is Focusing Its Compliance Efforts

The ATO continues to expand its use of data matching and artificial intelligence to identify discrepancies between lodged returns and third-party data. This tax time, several areas carry a heightened risk of ATO review.

Rental Properties and Holiday Homes

The ATO is scrutinising properties claimed as “available for rent” that show signs of private use. Mixed-use properties require careful apportionment of deductions. If a holiday home is used personally for part of the year, only the genuinely income-producing portion is deductible.

Working-From-Home Claims

Work-from-home deductions remain a high-risk area. Clients must use the fixed-rate method correctly and maintain adequate records of hours worked from home. Inflated claims or inadequate substantiation are among the most common errors the ATO identifies each year.

Undeclared Income From Side Hustles and Gig Platforms

The ATO cross-references income data from gig economy platforms, ride-sharing services, and online marketplaces. Furthermore, cryptocurrency transactions — including disposals, trades, and conversions — must be declared. Capital gains from crypto assets are just as taxable as those from shares or property.

Small Business Updates Worth Knowing

The $20,000 Instant Asset Write-Off — Legislated for 2025–26, But Not Yet Permanent

For the 2025–26 income year, small businesses with an aggregated annual turnover under $10 million can immediately deduct eligible assets costing less than $20,000. This threshold is confirmed law under the Treasury Laws Amendment (Strengthening Financial Systems and Other Measures) Act 2025. To qualify, the asset must be first used or installed ready for use between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026.

However, tax professionals should be aware of an important distinction. The 2026–27 Federal Budget proposed making the $20,000 threshold permanent from 1 July 2026. As of the date of this article, that measure has not yet passed Parliament. The relevant bill — the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 2) Bill 2026 — remains before Parliament. Until it receives Royal Assent, the legislated threshold from 1 July 2026 reverts to $1,000.

Do not assume the $20,000 threshold continues beyond 30 June 2026.
Advise small business clients accordingly, and monitor the progress of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 2) Bill 2026 closely. The threshold may change before the end of the 2026 calendar year if the bill passes.

Paper TPAR Lodgements Are No Longer Accepted

As of 28 August 2025, the ATO no longer accepts paper lodgements of Taxable Payments Annual Reports (TPAR). All TPAR submissions must go through SBR-enabled software or the Online Services for Business portal. Tax professionals should confirm their clients’ software is compatible well before the lodgement deadline.

Income Tax Rates and PAYG Withholding Changes

The Stage 3 tax reforms continue to shape the individual income tax structure. Updated individual income tax rates take effect from 1 July 2026, maintaining the simplified three-bracket arrangement.

These updated rates also trigger a revision to PAYG withholding tables. As a result, employers and payroll providers must apply the new withholding tables from 1 July 2026. Failing to update payroll systems could lead to under- or over-withholding, creating issues for both employers and employees at tax time.

Meanwhile, the superannuation guarantee rate remains stable at 12%, having reached this level on 1 July 2025. No further increases apply for the 2025–26 income year.

Key Dates for Tax Time 2026

Getting It Right This Tax Time

Ultimately, Tax Time 2026 is less about sweeping new concessions and more about precision, compliance, and awareness. The ATO has more tools than ever to identify discrepancies, and it is actively using them.

For tax professionals, the priorities are clear. Wait for pre-fill data before lodging. Apply the correct rules — not the ones clients may have heard about on social media. Ensure GIC and SIC charges are not deducted. Confirm that trust TFN data is complete. And approach high-risk deduction areas with thorough substantiation.

By taking a careful, informed approach, practitioners can help their clients lodge accurately, avoid unnecessary amendments, and stay well clear of ATO scrutiny. That is always the goal at tax time.

Need Professional Advice?
Our team of experienced tax professionals is here to help you navigate tax time with confidence. Whether you have questions about the changes in this article or need tailored advice for your clients, we are ready to assist.

The information contained in this article is general in nature and is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, financial, or professional tax advice. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of publication, tax laws and ATO guidance are subject to change.

Readers should not act or rely on this information without first seeking independent professional advice tailored to their specific circumstances. MaxGrowth accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on the content of this article.

This article draws on publicly available information published by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). For the most current and authoritative guidance, visit www.ato.gov.au