Helpful tips for tax time 2025
As 30 June approaches, here is some advice from the Australian Taxation Office.
Retirement marks the beginning of a new chapter; it’s a chance to spend more time with family and enjoy some well-earned relaxation.
It’s also a time to stay on top of your financial security, especially as tax time approaches. We asked the Australian Taxation Office’s (ATO’s) Assistant Commissioner Rob Thomson for some tax time tips, along with advice on keeping personal information safe from scammers this year.
Do you need to lodge a tax return?
After you leave the workforce, you may still need to lodge a tax return. You can check this using the ATO’s online tool, via ATO online services.
Check what deductions and offsets you can claim
You may be able to claim some of your expenses as deductions in your tax return. This can include donations you made to some charities, or expenses relating to investments.
You can claim a deduction for a gift or donation if it meets four conditions – for example, you can only claim a tax deduction for a gift or donation to an organisation that has the status of a deductible gift recipient (DGR).
You can check DGR status using the ABN Lookup tool. You’ll also need to keep records (usually receipts) of your donation.
You might be eligible for a number of tax offsets once you retire, such as the seniors and pensioners tax offset (SAPTO) if you receive a pension or allowance and meet certain income limits.
Use the ATO investors toolkit
If you’re an investor, check out the ATO’s Tax time toolkit for investors – a free guide packed with practical help for anyone earning income from investments including property and shares. You can find the investors toolkit at ato.gov.au/investorstoolkit.
Protect yourself from scams
Recent data shows Australians aged 65+ are the most likely to divulge personal information to scammers at tax time, which can lead to serious financial consequences like losing retirement savings or falling victim to identity theft.
Scammers know tax time is when you expect to hear from us, so they impersonate the ATO and send fake emails and messages. The best way to protect yourself this tax time is by keeping your personal information out of the hands of scammers.
Follow these three steps to protect yourself:
Stop: Never share your myGov sign in details, and only share personal information such as your Tax File Number (TFN) or bank account details if you trust the person and they genuinely require them. If in doubt, don’t disclose anything.
Check: Take a second to check. Ask yourself could it be fake? Is it really the ATO? If a link or QR code is directing you to provide information or to log into an online portal DON’T click on it!
Protect: If something doesn’t feel right or you notice unusual activity, act quickly. Visit verify or report a scam on our website or call 1800 008 540 for confirmation.
Learn more at ato.gov.au/scamsafe
Need help with your tax return?
If you earn $70,000 or less and have simple tax affairs, you may be eligible for free assistance through the Tax Help program.
From July to October, ATO trained volunteers can help you lodge your tax return online using myTax. Find out more at ato.gov.au/taxhelp.
