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Tax returns for students working in Australia

Most students who work in Australia must lodge a return by 31 October. We prepare yours, explain what you can actually claim, and lodge it through registered tax agent partners.

  • Returns prepared and lodged through registered tax agent partners, as the law requires
  • Deductions explained in plain English, with the records you need to keep
  • TFN and ABN applications, and the difference between employee and contractor
  • Residency for tax purposes assessed properly, because it changes what you pay
  • Fixed price quoted before any work starts
4.9/5From 3,200+ reviews
31 OctStandard lodgement deadline
RegisteredTax agent partners
15 minAverage reply time

Get a fixed-price tax quote

Tell us your situation for a price before any work starts.

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Who has to lodge, and when

If you worked in Australia and had tax withheld, you generally need to lodge a return for the financial year ending 30 June. The standard deadline is 31 October. Lodging through a registered tax agent can extend that date, provided you are on the agent client list before the deadline passes.

Many students assume a small income means nothing to do. Often the opposite is true: if too much tax was withheld across casual jobs, lodging is how you get the money back.

Employee income

Wages from casual, part-time or full-time work, with tax withheld and reported by your employer.

ABN income

Contractor or gig work where no tax was withheld, which usually means setting money aside yourself.

Multiple jobs

Common for students, and the most frequent cause of over-withholding and a refund.

What students can often claim

Deductions must relate directly to earning your income, and you need records. These are the categories students most commonly miss.

  • Work-related travel between two jobs on the same day, though not home to work
  • Uniforms with a logo, protective clothing and laundry of those items
  • Tools, equipment and phone or internet use, apportioned to work use only
  • Self-education expenses where the study directly relates to your current job
  • Union or professional association fees
  • Tax agent fees from the previous year

Residency, and why it matters so much

Tax residency is not the same as your visa status. Someone on a student visa is often an Australian resident for tax purposes, which brings the tax-free threshold and lower rates. Working holiday makers are taxed under separate rules from the first dollar.

Getting this wrong is the single most expensive mistake we see, in both directions: students who overpay for years, and students who underpay and later face a bill. We assess it properly before preparing anything.

How it works

1

Send your details

Income summaries, any ABN income and your expense records.

2

Fixed quote

A price before work starts, with no surprises later.

3

Preparation

We prepare the return and show you what is being claimed and why.

4

Lodgement

A registered tax agent partner reviews and lodges it, as Australian law requires.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Australian tax return deadline?
The standard deadline is 31 October for the financial year ending 30 June. Lodging through a registered tax agent can extend that date, provided you are on the agent client list before 31 October.
Do international students need to lodge a tax return?
If you worked and had tax withheld, generally yes. Many students are Australian residents for tax purposes and receive a refund, particularly if they worked several casual jobs across the year.
Who actually lodges my return?
A registered tax agent partner. Under Australian law only a registered agent can charge a fee to prepare and lodge a return, so we prepare the work and it is reviewed and lodged through our registered partners.
Can I claim my course fees?
Only where the study directly relates to the job you are currently earning income from. Study to get a new job, or to enter a field you do not yet work in, is generally not deductible, which surprises many students.
What if I worked on an ABN?
Then no tax was withheld and you may owe tax, and possibly GST if you were registered. We work out what you owe, what you can claim, and how to set money aside for next year.
How much does it cost?
From 79 dollars for a standard student return, quoted as a fixed price before we start. More complex returns with ABN income are quoted individually.

Get a fixed price before we start

Tell us your income sources and visa situation, and we will quote your return within 15 minutes.

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