If you’ve lodged your Tax Return and you’re waiting for your tax refund to come into your bank account, chances are you are wondering what the current status of your lodgement is.
Unfortunately, checking the status of your Tax Return online doesn’t mean your refund will come any sooner. In this article, we will explain how you can check the status of your lodgement during tax return time this year. But first…
How long does it take to process a Tax Return?
How long it takes to process your Tax Return with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) depends on how you decided to lodge your return:
- Online –
- Tax Return online lodgement 5 – 15 minutes
- ATO refund approximately 14 days
- By paper / accountant –
- Tax Return time for lodgement 14 – 30 days to set up appointment and complete the tax lodgement
- ATO refund Up to 44 days from commencing the process
We’re sorry to say but once you have lodged your Tax Return there isn’t a whole heap you can do to speed it up. However, if you need someone to talk to, One Click Life’s online support team is here to help! Simply log into your account and stop by to ask us any of your questions while you’re waiting for your return.
Is there absolutely nothing you can do to get your refund faster?
The most efficient way to speed up your Tax Return is by using an online tax platform like One Click Life. Save time with pre-filled income details, suggested deductions, or get live help from a qualified accountant, and submit your Tax Return in as little as 60 seconds. The quicker the Tax Return online is completed, the quicker the ATO refund is in your bank account.
What is the status of your Tax Return?
After you lodge your Tax Return with the ATO, your Tax Return will undergo 4 status updates. These status updates are:
- Processing
This means that the ATO has successfully received your Tax Return, and they have started processing it. Nothing much happens at this stage so all you can do is wait.
- Reviewing
At this stage your Tax Return is being manually reviewed by the ATO so they can make sure everything you declared is right before they finalise it. While your Tax Return is under review, the ATO may also review previous years lodgements. The ATO may contact you if they need more information.
- Balancing account
Here the ATO will balance the result of your Tax Return with other government agencies so they can work out how much you need to pay, or how much you will be refunded. The ATO will contact you if they need more information.
- Issued
This is the final stage. You should be able to see a notice of assessment online with myGov, along with a date for when you’re entitled for a refund or liable to pay.
With that in mind, let’s find out how you can track the progress of your Tax Return.
How to track my Tax Return in Australia
Although it won’t speed up the process, you may still want to check the status of your Tax Return so you have an idea when you need to pay/will receive your refund. There are four ways to check the status of your Tax Return:
Online
You can check your Tax Return online by:
- Logging into your myGov account
- Selecting the ATO from your member services
- Select “manage Tax Returns”
- Then select this years Tax Return to view its status
ATO mobile app
You can check your Tax Return with the mobile app by:
- Downloading the ATO app
- Login to the app with your myGov details
- Select “your Tax Return 2021-22” (or whichever year is relevant)
Over the phone
You can check your Tax Return over the phone by (have your tax file number ready):
- Phoning 13 28 65
- Choose option 1, and then option 1 again
Check the progress of your Tax Return with the ATO
Lodging with a Registered Tax Agent
An online taxation platform will have all of your taxation information available to you at the click of a button, including the status of your tax refund.
Which tax agent is the best for tracking the status of your return?
Sure you can use the ATO if you are comfortable with the deep ocean of knowledge that is taxation. But why not let One Click Life deal with them for you. Lodging your Tax Return is now fast, simple and easy, so easy that you could do it in just 60 seconds.
| myGov | One Click Life | |
| Is quick and simple | X | ✅ |
| Pre-fills your income details | X | ✅ |
| Helps you claim deductions | X | ✅ |
| Checks your return for errors | X | ✅ |
| Has live support from a qualified accountant | X | ✅ |
The more you deduct, the less tax you pay and the more money you can spend on yourself. The sure-fire way to do that is with a tax agent or accountant. You can also claim your tax agent/Tax Return fee back on tax, so why wouldn’t you use one to minimise your tax and maximise your money?
One Click Life offers online Tax Returns at your fingertips in an easy-to-use platform run by industry professionals.
Taxes, Health Insurance, and Wills can be time-consuming and tedious. Our app allows you to be able to do this fuss-free, giving you a simple way to organise, track and manage all of your Life Admin in one place.
Let One Click Life take care of your Tax Return and life’s essential tasks, so you can spend more time doing the things you love.