After you lodge your tax return, we process it and issue you with a notice of assessment. If you're owed a refund it will be issued at the same time.
If you provide your account details in your return, your refund can be paid directly to your account making it even quicker to receive your money.
We usually process tax returns that have been lodged electronically (including through e-tax) within 12 business days of receiving them.
Paper tax returns for individuals are usually processed within 42 days of being received.
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Your refund may be delayed if you make mistakes in your tax return. Common mistakes are:
- forgetting to include your date of birth
- including incorrect bank account details
- forgetting to include any name change from a previous year's return
- forgetting to include interest from a bank account or income from a previous job.
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If your return needs further checking, it may take us longer to complete the process, for example if:
- we require more information or need to check data with the Department of Human Services
- you lodge returns for previous years at the same time as your current year's return
- we identify potential errors, such as overstated claims
- you have existing insolvency-related obligations.
If you lodge your return electronically and we are unable to finalise it within 30 calendar days, we will inform you of this.
Checking the progress of your tax return
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If you lodged through a tax agent, contact them for information about your lodgment date and processing times.
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If you sent your tax return by ordinary post, wait seven weeks before phoning to check how it's going.
If you lodged online using e-tax, check your lodgment was successful before you contact us to see how it's going. If lodgment was successful, wait 30 days before you phone us.
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After the waiting period, you can check the progress of your tax return by using:
- our online Progress of return enquiry tool
- the automated service on 13 28 65 (available 24 hours a day, every day). You will need to key in your tax file number (TFN) using your telephone keypad.
These services cannot be used to check the progress of amendments.
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Serious financial hardship
If you are expecting a refund and experiencing serious financial hardship, we may be able to arrange for your return to be processed as a priority. Serious financial hardship means you're unable to provide food, accommodation, clothing, medical treatment, education or other necessities for you, your family or other people for whom you're responsible.
Last Modified: Thursday, 21 February 2013