Once you lodge your Australian tax return electronically, the ATO typically processes it and issues your refund within two weeks. In many cases it is faster — sometimes within a few days. However, several factors can affect this timeline.
What affects how quickly you get your refund
The main factor is how you lodge. Electronic lodgement — either directly through myGov or through a registered tax agent — is the fastest method. Paper returns take significantly longer, often eight weeks or more.
The time of year also matters. The ATO receives a large volume of returns shortly after 1 July when the new financial year begins. Lodging early in July or waiting until later in the year tends to result in faster processing than lodging during the peak period in August and September.
If your return is selected for a manual review or if there are discrepancies between your return and information the ATO holds — such as income that does not match your employer's records — processing will take longer.
How to check your refund status
You can check the progress of your return through myGov once it has been lodged. The ATO updates the status as it moves through processing. If you used a tax agent, they can also check on your behalf.
What if your refund is taking longer than expected?
If it has been more than 28 days since you lodged and you have not received your refund, you can contact the ATO on 13 28 61 to follow up. Make sure your bank account details on file with the ATO are correct, as an incorrect BSB or account number will delay or redirect your payment.
Refunds after leaving Australia
If you have already left Australia, your refund will be deposited into the Australian bank account you nominated on your tax return. If that account is now closed, contact the ATO to update your details before the refund is processed.
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What is a tax refund and how do you know if you are owed one in Australia?
A tax refund is money the ATO pays back to you when you have paid more tax than you owed during the year. Most working holiday makers are owed one.