ATO updates
Frontline services
Tax Time 2026 is progressing well, supported by increased resourcing to support peak period demand with this week projected to be one of the busiest weeks for telephony this tax time.
We're forecasting a 3.5% increase in individual lodgments this tax time, which is in line with population growth.
As of 15 July, we have received over 1.7 million individual lodgments, which is a 2% increase compared to the same time last year. We note that this trend has been slower than previous years and that this may reflect the positive impact of our messaging encouraging taxpayers to wait until their pre-fill information is available before lodging.
Last week, we answered over 21,000 calls from the registered agent phone lines, with an average wait time of 7 minutes and 14 seconds.
We reminded members that fast key codes have been updated, making it easier for tax agents to connect with the appropriate area to resolve enquires more efficiently.
IT system updates and maintenance
All systems, including myID and RAM, are currently operating normally with no outages logged.
Digital services
Online services for agents and myTax are operating well, with no major issues identified.
The pre-fill safety net will be lifted at 6:00 pm on 15 July, enabling Modernisation of Trust Administration Systems (MTAS) data to be available from lodged trust tax returns to become available through ATO Online and SBR.
The issue identified last week impacting Taxable Payments Annual Report (TPAR) data has a fix scheduled for 18 July 2026, noting that we have contacted affected agents.
We currently have 72,000 TPAR pre-fill records, an increase of 69% from the same time last year, with all TPAR pre-fill due 28 August. Overall, pre-fill readiness continues to strengthen, with 94.8 million third-party records available. Check the availability of pre-fill data on ato.gov.au/prefillavailability, which is updated daily.
Member comments
Members asked for an update on the availability of third-party pre-fill data.
We advised that further update will be provided next week and noted that third-party data is currently flowing through successfully.
Members also noted that some ATO communications encourage taxpayers to check information that may not be available through pre-fill services, such as gig economy income, and asked whether this information could be provided directly to tax agents.
We responded that much of this information is expected to become available through TPAR reporting, which is due by the end of August.
External communications
Week three of Tax Time communications highlighted a range of key topics through Tax and BAS agent news, including Div 7A calculator updates, consultation on draft PAYG instalments guidelines, closely held trusts, Payday Super and super guarantee (SG) obligations.
The Commissioner’s recent article following the Tax professionals tax time live stream generated media interest, particularly in relation to GIC remission and supporting vulnerable taxpayers.
We also launched a new 8-week multilingual 'Tax and super basics' advertising campaign, encouraging taxpayers to lodge correctly, including messaging about seeking assistance from a registered tax agent. Ongoing media, podcast and social media activity has focused on tax time priorities including, AI-generated tax advice, common errors, car expenses and Payday Super.
We released guidance to support small businesses as part of the ‘Getting it right’ campaign focus on Over-claiming expenses and GST credits and helpful information explaining how income tax and GST apply to compensation payments for Renewable Energy Zone projects.
Tax professionals were encouraged to attend the upcoming Tax Time 2026 open forum on 22 July, to hear updates on key tax time issues and participate in a live Q&A session – registrations are open.
Individuals
We advised there is no evidence of incorrect claiming of the $1,000 standard deduction in this year's lodgments, noting the measure does not apply until the 2026–27 income year. Given tax agents advise their clients of this incorrect reporting, messaging has been included in myTax to advise self-preparers that the deduction is not available this year. We will continue to monitor lodgment behaviour.
We've also undertaken targeted communications around car expenses and cryptocurrency. We continue to monitor lodgments for self-preparers with these claims.
Member comments
Members queried whether the ATO will undertake audits on taxpayers that lodged early this year.
We confirmed that our models to monitor early lodgments continues, with the same approach taken as previous years.
Members asked whether tax agents had been notified of the car expenses communications issued to clients.
We confirmed that due to privacy and cyber security considerations, the communications were predominantly issued directly to affected taxpayers, primarily self-lodgers.