How to lodge an Australian tax return from overseas after you leave

How do you lodge from overseas through our service?

The process is fully remote:

1. Send us your details: TFN, passport, employment dates, bank account
2. We pull your income statements from the ATO system
3. We prepare your return and confirm the expected refund with you
4. We lodge with the ATO on your behalf
5. The refund is paid to your Australian bank account, usually within two weeks

You do not need to navigate ATO online systems yourself. You do not need to come back to Australia.

What do you need to lodge from overseas?

To lodge through our service, we need:

• Your Tax File Number (TFN)
• Identification (passport details)
• Details of an Australian bank account for the refund
• Any deduction receipts you have (we work with you on what is eligible)
• Details of any ABN or contractor income

If you have already closed your Australian bank account, get in touch with our team and we will discuss alternative arrangements for receiving the refund.

What is the deadline to lodge from overseas?

The standard deadline is 31 October following the end of the financial year:

• 2024-25 financial year → standard deadline 31 October 2025
• Through our service as your registered tax agent → deadline often extended into the following May

This means if you missed the October deadline, lodging through us still gives you time to do it without late penalties.

What happens to your refund when you lodge from overseas?

If tax was overpaid during the year, the ATO refunds the difference:

• Paid into your Australian bank account
• Usually arrives within two weeks of lodgment
• Sometimes faster (a few business days)
• The payment is in Australian dollars

Keep your Australian bank account open until the refund clears. If you have already closed it, we work out alternative arrangements with you when we start the return.

What if you owe money instead of receiving a refund?

In rare cases, if too little was withheld during the year (for example, with ABN income or where the tax-free threshold was incorrectly claimed), you may owe money instead of receiving a refund. If that happens:

• The ATO issues a notice with a payment deadline
• We can set up a payment plan if needed
• The amount must be paid before your tax obligations are considered resolved

Most working holiday makers receive a refund. Owing money is the exception, not the rule.