Whether you need to lodge a tax return in Australia does not depend on how long you were there. It depends on whether you earned income during the Australian financial year and how much tax was withheld relative to what you actually owe.
The general rule
If you earned any income in Australia during a financial year, you are generally required to lodge a tax return for that year. This applies whether you worked for two weeks or two years. The ATO uses the return to calculate your actual tax liability and to reconcile it against what your employer withheld from your wages.
When you might not need to lodge
There are limited circumstances where you do not need to lodge. If your only Australian income was from interest or dividends under a certain threshold, and the correct withholding tax was applied, you may not be required to lodge. However, for working holiday makers earning wages, the requirement to lodge almost always applies.
Why lodging is worth it even when you are unsure
Even if you are not strictly required to lodge, doing so may result in a refund. If your employer withheld at the highest rate for any period because you did not have your TFN on file, or if there were other errors in your withholding, a tax return is how you get that money back. Not lodging means leaving it with the ATO.
Lodging for a short stay from overseas
If you have already left Australia, you can still lodge your return online. The return can be submitted from anywhere in the world through myGov or through a registered tax agent. You will need your TFN, your income statements, and an Australian bank account or an arrangement for payment of any refund.
The deadline to lodge is 31 October following the end of the financial year. Using a registered tax agent may give you additional time beyond that deadline.
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Not sure if you need to lodge?
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How does the Australian tax year work for working holiday makers?
The Australian financial year runs from 1 July to 30 June. Here is what that means for your tax return and when you need to lodge it.