Many Australians have already lodged their 2025–26 tax return. For some, the process is finished. For others, additional information may arrive later, or they may realise something wasn’t included when the return was lodged. Lodging your return doesn’t necessarily mean the review process is over.
Has anything changed since you lodged?
After lodging your return, you might: receive an in come statement, dividend statement or interest summary that you hadn’t seen before; find receipts or records you thought were lost; realise that income, deductions or other information were omitted; or notice that information in your return doesn’t match your own records. These situations can arise for a range of reasons, particularly where information becomes available after a return’s been lodged.
The ATO says individuals and sole traders can request an amendment if they’ve made a mistake, forgot to include something, or had a change in circumstances after lodging. The ATO also notes that amendments can be requested online, by paper, through a registered tax agent or by letter.
Who lodged the return?
If you lodged the return yourself and you’ve identified something that may be incorrect or incomplete, it’s worth seeking advice before deciding what to do next. Sometimes an issue may affect your tax position, while in other cases no further action may be necessary.
If your tax professional lodged the return, let them know as soon as new information comes to light. Passing it on quickly means any required corrections can be considered without delay.
Is it better to wait and see?
A common instinct is to wait and see. People often discover something after lodgment and then do nothing because they aren’t sure whether it really matters. If you’ve found information that may affect your return, don’t assume it’s too minor to worry about. Gather the relevant records and seek advice. Often the biggest challenge is simply working out whether the issue is significant enough to require action. A quick conversation can usually provide clarity.
What should you do if you spot a problem?
If you think something in your lodged return may be incorrect: Gather the information that relates to the issue. Keep copies of any documents, statements or receipts. Contact your tax professional and explain what you’ve found. Avoid making assumptions about whether the issue is important or whether it can be ignored. The right approach depends on the circumstances.
The ATO says taxpayers should generally wait until their original tax return has been processed before submitting an amendment.
A tax return isn’t a once-only document. The purpose of lodging isn’t just to get the paperwork in. It’s to make sure your return reflects your actual circumstances for the year. If you’ve already lodged and something doesn’t look right, don’t panic and don’t assume it’s too late to do anything about it. Tax returns can generally be amended where mistakes are identified or additional information needs to be included after lodgment.
If you’ve discovered information that may affect your return, please contact our office. We can help you understand whether any further action may be needed and discuss the options available in your particular circumstances.