FY2019-20 · 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020
Haven't lodged your 2020 tax return? You still can.
Your 2020 return covered 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020 and was originally due by 31 October 2020 if you were lodging it yourself. That date has passed, which is the only thing that makes it a late return.
There is no cut-off after which the ATO stops accepting it. A 2020 return can still be prepared and lodged now, using the rates that applied to that year, and it is assessed in the normal way.
The ATO already holds the income statement or payment summary data reported for 2020, so missing payslips are usually not a problem. And where the year results in a refund, the ATO generally does not apply a failure to lodge penalty to an individual.
Tax rates that applied in FY2019-20
These are the resident individual rates for 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020. A prior year return is assessed on the rates of its own year, not today's.
| Taxable income | Tax on this income |
|---|---|
| $0 - $18,200 | Nil |
| $18,201 - $37,000 | 19% on this part of your income |
| $37,001 - $90,000 | 32.5% on this part of your income |
| $90,001 - $180,000 | 37% on this part of your income |
| $180,001 and over | 45% on this part of your income |
- Medicare levy: 2.0% of taxable income. Low-income reductions and exemptions applied to some people and are not shown here.
- Low income tax offset: up to $445, reducing as income rises.
- Low and middle income tax offset: up to $1,080 for this year.
What changed that year: Rates and offsets were unchanged. This is the COVID year, so many people had JobKeeper, JobSeeker or early super amounts to report.
Estimate your 2020 refund
Put in what you earned in FY2019-20 and what was withheld. The estimator applies that year's brackets, Medicare levy and offsets.
Prior year estimator
Your 2020 position
Total income before tax. If you are not sure, use your best estimate.
From your payslips or your ATO income statement for that year.
Estimated position for FY2019-20
-
Enter your income to see an estimate
Estimate only. It excludes HECS-HELP and study loan repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, Medicare levy low-income reductions, and any deductions you are entitled to.
Lodging late for this year? FTL penalty exposure is usually nil where a refund results - how late lodgement penalties work.
Email me these results
We'll send a copy of your figures plus a plain-English explanation of your options. One email, no spam.
Comparing several years? The prior year tax refund calculator does the same thing for every year from 2010 to 2025.
What we need from you
- Your tax file number and date of birth.
- Photo ID, so we can verify you as required of a registered tax agent.
- Roughly what you did in 2020: who you worked for, whether you had an ABN, and whether you were overseas at any point.
- Any deductions you remember, even approximately. Work-related expenses, tools, union fees, donations.
You do not need to find old paperwork first. Once you have signed a free authority to act, TaxNudge pulls the ATO pre-fill for 2020, which includes the income reported by employers, banks, Centrelink and health funds for that year. We work from that and check it against anything you can find.
Not sure how nominating an agent works? Here is the tax agent nomination process, step by step.
Common situations for 2020
- You worked as a sole trader or ABN contractor for part of the year. That income is declared in the business schedule of the same return, alongside any wages.
- You received Centrelink payments. Most are taxable and are reported to the ATO, so they appear in the pre-fill for the year.
- You lived or worked overseas for part of the year. Residency for tax purposes changes how the year is assessed, so we check it before lodging.
2020 tax return questions
Can I still lodge my 2020 tax return?
Yes. There is no cut-off date after which the ATO refuses a late return. The 2020 return is lodged through a registered tax agent using the rates that applied to that year, and it is assessed in the normal way.
Will I get a penalty for lodging 2020 late?
Where the year results in a refund or a nil assessment, the ATO generally does not apply a failure to lodge penalty to an individual. Where tax is payable, a penalty can apply, and it is often remitted in full or part where you come forward voluntarily and bring your lodgements up to date.
What if I don't have my 2020 payslips or group certificate?
That is usually not a problem. Employers, banks and Centrelink reported your 2020 income to the ATO at the time, and we retrieve that pre-fill data for the year once you have signed a free authority to act. Missing paperwork mostly affects deductions, not income.
How long does it take?
A straightforward year is usually prepared and lodged within about five business days once we have your records. Larger multi-year catch-ups usually take about two to three weeks. Assessments from the ATO on older years can take longer than current-year returns.
Can the fee come out of my refund?
Yes, where a refund is expected we can deduct the fee from the refund, so there is nothing to pay upfront. See how fee from refund works for the detail and the conditions.
Every year you can still lodge
Several years behind? Overdue individual tax returns covers how a multi-year catch-up works.
Ready to put this behind you?
Get your free, confidential overdue tax assessment. No judgment, no obligation - just a clear path forward.
Prefer to talk? Book a free 15-minute call.
⚡ Complete the short confidential form. A registered tax professional will respond within one business day.