Tax returns & filing

Tax returns and filing in Australia

Updated 4 November 2026

A personal tax return with an accountant in Australia usually costs about A$100 to A$400, and a sole trader's return with financials runs A$600 to A$1,500. Basic returns can also be lodged with an assisted online service for about A$109. Full-service accounting, with bookkeeping, BAS and the return, typically costs A$3,000 to A$15,000 a year. To compare, describe your situation in a request on BlaBlaPrice.

Rules and deadlines to check

A company's tax return is due by the 15th day of the seventh month after its income year ends, so check the date early. Business owners also lodge regular business activity statements (BAS). Anyone leaving Australia should lodge the return before they go. If you lodge a paper return by mail, the tax office says most refunds are issued within 50 business days.

Season and timing in Australia

Summer runs from December to February and winter from June to August, and the weather does not change what a return costs. Timing does matter for your own paperwork: gather payslips, bank statements and receipts before the deadline, not in the final week.

What to write in your request

Say who is filing (individual, sole trader, company or trust), which return, the financial year, the income or business activity, whether it is a one-off or a regular job, and how many records you have. Add your deadline and budget, and say whether you also need bookkeeping or BAS.

BlaBlaPrice is free for buyers. Describe your return in your own words in a chat, and the AI checks accountants' websites and price lists in Australia, then shows the prices it finds. Sellers registered on BlaBlaPrice reply in the chat with their own price, terms and timeline, and your contacts stay hidden until you choose to share them. Some online services charge nothing up front and take their fee from your refund, which is one option to compare. For related help see Accounting services or Accounting software setup and support.