E-tax essentials

E-tax 2013

E-tax is the ATO's free and secure downloadable software that helps you prepare and lodge your tax return online. It has built-in checks and calculators to help you ensure your return is as accurate as possible. Tax returns lodged using e-tax are usually processed within 12 business days.

E-tax provides you with the opportunity to pre-fill your tax return with information held by us and reported by other organisations. Pre-filling makes it easier for you to meet your tax obligations and claim your entitlements. For more information about this feature, see Pre-filling service - e-tax.

To see how easy it is to use e-tax, watch the short 'E-tax in 5 easy steps' video on our YouTube channel.

E-tax 2013 will be available for use from 1 July 2013.

E-tax 2012

E-tax 2012 is no longer available.

If you have not yet lodged your 2012 tax return and you have simple tax affairs, you may be eligible to use the short tax return phone lodgment service.

It's easy and we will usually process your tax return within 12 business days.

For more information about this service, refer to Lodge by phone or phone us on 13 28 61.

Alternatively, you can use one of our other lodgment options:

• if you already have the e-tax 2012 software, you can still use it to prepare your tax return before printing it and lodging on paper; see e-tax 2012 paper lodgment
• use the Individual tax return instructions 2012 to complete the Tax return for individuals 2012 (NAT 2541) and lodge on paper
• go to a registered tax agent.

More information

To find out if you need to lodge or for more information about preparing your tax return, see Lodging your tax return.