Tax Return Checklist: What to bring to your tax appointment

From paperwork to possibilities.

Tax appointments are most productive – and lead to the best outcomes – when you’re well prepared.

Having everything ready to go means we can spend less time chasing documents and more time giving you thoughtful, integrated advice.

Of course, we’ll help you make the most out of your entitlements and deductions, and ensure you’re in a strong position for the year ahead. But with good preparation, we’ll be able to elevate the conversation – from the transactional to the transformational.

So you get prepared and we can get on with the much more powerful task of spotting the opportunities most other advisers miss.

What the ATO knows about you.

Years of improvements in the ATO’s data-matching systems means there’s actually a lot you no longer need to bring to your appointment.

Once you’ve provided your Tax File Number (TFN), we can usually pre-fill your return with income data from:

• Employers
• Centrelink
• Banks and financial institutions
• Superannuation funds
• Health insurers

That said, there are still plenty of things the ATO can’t automatically see – and that’s where our tax checklist comes in. It outlines everything else you might need to provide, so you can feel confident you’ve covered all the bases.

You check the details, we’ll wrangle your data.

Australia’s tax system runs on self-assessment – that means the ATO accepts the information you provide as true and complete.

Of course, we’ll prepare your return thoroughly and accurately. But it’s up to you to disclose all relevant income and expenses, and check your return thoroughly before lodgement.

You’ll be asked to review every page of your return and confirm that all information is correct – and that there are no errors or omissions.

Record keeping: your responsibility.

When it comes to your tax returns, you’re also responsible for keeping proper records and receipts for five years from the date of lodgement.

Records can be paper or electronic – including scans or photos. You can use any system or app to store your documentation, as long as you’ve kept clear and accurate copies of the original, and documents can be easily accessed if needed. Whatever you choose, be sure to back up your electronic records regularly!

If the ATO reviews your tax return and you can’t provide evidence for a deduction, your claims can be disallowed (taken off your return). You also leave yourself open to audits, adjustments and even fines.

Lastly – when it comes to expenses that were for both private and business/work uses (e.g. working from home expenses like equipment in your home office or work travel that extended into a family holiday), you’ll need to keep more than just receipts. You’ll also need to hang onto records that show how you figured out the business portion of those expenses.

For more on the records you need to keep to substantiate your tax return, be sure to check in with the ATO.

So go on: download your tax return checklist.

The earlier you get your documents together, the smoother the process will be. Even if you’re not ready to book your appointment just yet, grabbing the checklist now is a great way to get a head start – and avoid that last-minute scramble.

Still unsure what applies to you? We’re just a phone call or email away.

👉 Download our always-up-to-date Tax Return Checklist.

Let’s make this tax time the smoothest one yet.