Every July, it may seem like we’re suddenly asking for more information than we used to. Fair thought. The short answer is the ATO can check far more than it used to, and the records you give us are what stand between a smooth lodgement and an unwanted letter from the ATO later in the year.
Here’s what’s changed, and what we need from you.
The ATO is no longer relying on taxpayers to get it right on their own. It’s using data matching, AI and targeted compliance programs to catch mistakes before taxpayers even realise they’ve made them. The ATO can cross check data with employers, banks, share registries, digital platforms and crypto exchanges. The ATO may identify discrepancies any time after a return is lodged.
That’s not a reason to worry. It’s why we’re thorough. A return built on real records that we can provide substantiation for is a return that holds up.
The rate is still 70 cents per hour worked from home which covers electricity, internet, phone and stationery. What’s changed is proof. The ATO expects a genuine record of hours, a diary, roster or timesheet.
Send us: a total per your diary, timesheets or spreadsheet, kept as you go.
Nine out of ten rental owners get something wrong on their return with many confusing a repair with an improvement. Repairs are immediately deductible; improvements aren’t. Holiday-let owners face extra scrutiny too, if the property isn’t genuinely used primarily to earn rent, expenses like interest and rates generally can’t be claimed at all.
Send us: your agent statement, loan interest statement, repair/improvement invoices, and nights rented vs. used privately if it’s a holiday home.
For income from sources such as Uber, Airbnb, and crypto, the ATO already has this data straight from the platforms. Leaving it off your return doesn’t lower your tax bill it just creates a mismatch we have to fix later, usually with interest attached.
Send us: a summary of any side income, and a full transaction export for any crypto activity.
Lodging in the first days of July, before your income is pre-filled, is the fastest way to miss bank interest, dividends, government payments or health insurance details, increasing the likelihood of the return requiring an amendment. Where possible, it’s best to wait two to four weeks to ensure it’s right the first time.
The new $1,000 no-receipt deduction is real, however, it doesn’t start until 1 July 2026, meaning it first applies to your 2026–27 return, not the one we’re lodging now.
Every document we ask for exists to make your return accurate and defensible. The more complete your records, the more thoroughly we can work through every deduction you’re entitled to. If you’re ever unsure whether something’s worth mentioning, tell us anyway. It’s a much easier conversation before we lodge than after.
Written for you by James Barton
The information contained on this website and in this article is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Taxation, legal and other matters referred to on this website and in this article are of a general nature only and are based on our interpretation of laws existing at the time and should not be relied upon in place of appropriate professional advice. Those laws may change from time to time.
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