Tax Return Not Done and 31 October Is Here? What to Do Now

If your tax return is not done and the 31 October deadline is about to hit, the most useful thing you can do today is get on a registered tax agent's books. If you are on an agent's client list before 31 October, you generally get a much later lodgment deadline, often into the following year, which gives you time to do the return properly. If you would rather lodge it yourself, you still can, but lodging late without an agent arrangement can mean a failure-to-lodge penalty and interest on any tax owed. And if you have already missed one or more years, the fix is the same: start now, because it only gets easier once you engage.

Key Takeaways

• 📅 Self-lodged individual returns for the year to 30 June are due 31 October
• 🤝 Getting on a registered tax agent's books before 31 October generally extends your deadline, often into the following year
• 📆 In 2026, 31 October falls on a Saturday, so contact your agent during business hours this week rather than on the day
• ⚠️ Lodging late without an agent arrangement can attract a failure-to-lodge penalty plus interest on tax owed
• 🧾 If you have older returns outstanding, they can be caught up, and the ATO deals far better with people who come forward
• 📞 The quickest first step is a phone call or an online booking, not a finished return

Every year, the last week of October brings the same phone calls. "I know it's due this week, I haven't started, what do I do?" If that is you right now, take a breath. This is one of the most common situations we deal with, and it is far more fixable than it feels at eleven o'clock at night with a shoebox of receipts on the table.

The key thing to understand is that 31 October is the deadline for people lodging their own return. If you use a registered tax agent, you generally fall under the agent's lodgment program with the ATO, and the due dates under that program are considerably later, for many individuals well into the following year. The condition is timing: you need to be on the agent's client list before 31 October. That is why the single most useful thing you can do this week is not to finish your return, but to get on an agent's books.

There is a quirk this year worth knowing. In 2026, 31 October falls on a Saturday. The ATO generally lets you lodge on the next business day when a due date falls on a weekend, but your accountant still needs time to add you as a client, and most offices are closed on Saturdays. So do not leave the call until the weekend. Make contact during business hours before the deadline.

This guide covers what to do if you are running out of time this year, what actually happens if you lodge late, how to catch up if you are already a year or more behind, and what you need to have ready. What we see every year is that people who pick up the phone early have a far calmer, cheaper time of it than those who wait for a letter from the ATO.

How Do You Get More Time to Lodge Your Tax Return?

The most reliable way to get more time is to become a client of a registered tax agent before 31 October. Clients of registered agents generally fall under the agent's lodgment program, which gives later due dates than the 31 October self-lodgment date, often into the following year. You do not need to have your return ready. You need to be on the agent's books in time.

In practice, getting on the books is quick. You get in touch with the agent, provide your details, and give them authority to act for you. They then add you to their client list with the ATO. Once that is done before the deadline, your return is generally covered by the agent's lodgment program, and you can gather your paperwork and complete the return at a sensible pace.

There are some exceptions worth knowing. If you have older returns that were never lodged, or you were late in previous years, your due date can be earlier even when you use an agent, because the ATO can require overdue returns to be brought up to date first. If that is your situation, mention it straight away so your accountant can tell you what applies to you.

The other route, if you are lodging yourself and genuinely cannot make it, is to ask the ATO for a deferral of your lodgment. Deferrals are not automatic and need a good reason, and requesting one yourself is more work than simply getting on an agent's books. For most people, the agent route is simpler and gives more time.

Whichever route you take, do something before the deadline rather than after it. Once 31 October has passed without an agent arrangement in place, you cannot go back and register with an agent to avoid being late for that year. That is the one door that closes.

What Happens If You Lodge Your Tax Return Late?

If you lodge your own return after the deadline without an agent arrangement or an approved deferral, the ATO can apply a failure-to-lodge penalty, and general interest can build up on any tax you owe. How much it matters depends largely on whether you owe tax or are due a refund, and on how late you are.

The failure-to-lodge penalty is calculated in penalty units, based on how many 28-day periods the return is late, up to a maximum. The dollar value of a penalty unit is set by the government and changes over time, so the exact amount varies. What does not vary is the principle: the later the return, the larger the potential penalty.

If you owe tax, lodging late can cost you twice: the penalty for lodging late, plus interest on the amount you owe from when it was due. If the ATO owes you a refund, the practical sting is usually smaller, and it is often not applied, but you are also going without your own money for longer. The catch is that you often do not know whether you have a refund or a bill until the return is done, so assuming you are owed money is a gamble.

The ATO is generally reasonable with people who get on the front foot. Penalties can sometimes be remitted where there is a good explanation, and payment plans are available if you owe tax and cannot pay it all at once. The people who have the hardest time are those who ignore reminder letters and let the problem grow.

So, if you are already late, lodge as soon as you can, or get an accountant to do it and deal with the ATO for you. Waiting does not make a late return less late. It just makes it later.

What If You Haven't Lodged for Several Years?

If you have several years of unlodged tax returns, the fix is to start now and catch them up, ideally with a registered tax agent who can lodge the overdue years, deal with the ATO on your behalf and help limit penalties. It feels overwhelming from the outside, but it is routine work for an accountant, and it is almost always less painful than people fear.

Falling behind happens for all sorts of reasons: a busy year that turned into two, a move, a new business, a change in family circumstances, or simply not knowing where to start. There is no need to feel embarrassed about it. Catching up overdue returns is one of the most common reasons people first get in touch with us.

The process usually starts with pulling together what the ATO already holds for you. Much of your income information for past years, such as employment income, bank interest and some investment details, is often available to your tax agent. That means you rarely need to reconstruct everything from scratch. The accountant then works through each year, identifies the deductions you can still support with records, and lodges the returns in order.

Dealing with the ATO is part of the job. A registered agent can talk to the ATO for you, explain your circumstances, request penalty remission where it is appropriate and set up a payment arrangement if there is a debt. For a lot of people, simply not having to make that call themselves is a huge relief.

Once you are caught up, you are back in the system, and you can get the benefit of the agent's lodgment program for future years. The first year is the hardest. After that, it becomes a routine appointment.

What Do You Need to Have Ready?

To get on a tax agent's books before the deadline, you usually need very little: your name, date of birth, contact details and tax file number, plus your authority for the agent to act for you. The full paperwork for the return can come afterwards. Do not let the fact that your documents are not organised stop you from making the first call.

For the return itself, it helps to start gathering the things the ATO cannot see. That means receipts or records for work-related expenses, a logbook or a record of work kilometres if you claim car use, your private health insurance details if you changed funds, and records for any income that does not pre-fill, such as business income, rental property statements, share or crypto sales and foreign income.

Your bank account details for any refund, and your spouse's taxable income if you have a spouse, are also commonly needed, because several offsets and the Medicare levy surcharge depend on combined income. If you have dependants, have their details handy too.

If you are catching up older years, gather what you can for each year, but do not wait until everything is perfect. Your accountant can often retrieve much of the income information directly, and will tell you exactly what else is needed. The aim is to get the process moving.

The main thing to remember is the order: get on the books first, then gather documents, then complete the return. Doing it the other way round is how people end up missing the deadline while they hunt for one last receipt.

The Bottom Line: Don't Let 31 October Slide

If your tax return is not done and 31 October has arrived, the best move today is to get on a registered tax agent's books before the deadline. That generally extends your lodgment deadline, often into the following year, and takes the pressure off. This year, with 31 October falling on a Saturday, make that contact during business hours before the weekend. If you have already missed a year or more, the answer is the same: start now, lodge what is outstanding and let your accountant handle the ATO.

What you want to avoid is doing nothing. Late lodgment without an arrangement can bring penalties and interest, and those grow the longer it is left. A quick phone call now is worth far more than a perfect return lodged months late.

Individual tax returns are $132, sole trader and ABN returns are $330, and company and trust returns start from $660. You pay a $20 deposit to book and the balance at your appointment.

Running out of time? Book online at versatileaccounting.com.au/book or call us on (07) 3154 2822 and we will get you on our books before the deadline.

📍 Versatile Accounting · Dales Rd, Kobble Creek QLD 4520 · (07) 3154 2822 🧾 Individual & business tax returns · Small business accounting · BAS & bookkeeping

FAQ

Is it too late to get an extension on my tax return?

If you are lodging yourself and have not yet reached 31 October, it is not too late to get on a registered tax agent's books, which generally gives you a later deadline. Once 31 October has passed without an agent arrangement, you cannot sign up with an agent to avoid being late for that year.

What if 31 October falls on a weekend?

The ATO generally allows you to lodge on the next business day when a due date falls on a weekend. In 2026, 31 October is a Saturday. If you plan to use an accountant, contact them during business hours before the weekend so they have time to add you as a client.

What is the penalty for lodging a tax return late?

The ATO can apply a failure-to-lodge penalty, calculated in penalty units for each 28 days the return is late, up to a maximum, plus general interest on any tax owed. If you are owed a refund, a penalty is often not applied, but you usually will not know until the return is done.

Can an accountant help if I haven't lodged for years?

Yes. A registered tax agent can lodge multiple overdue years, retrieve much of your past income information, deal with the ATO for you, request penalty remission where appropriate and set up a payment plan for any debt.

What do I need to get on an accountant's books?

Usually just your name, date of birth, contact details and tax file number, plus your authority for the agent to act for you. The paperwork for the return itself can come afterwards.