NID Partners2026 at a glanceAustralia
Checked 28 Sep 2026 against ATO sources. Conditions and exceptions are in each section below.
What this covers. National (federal) rules only. State and territory payroll tax is not covered. Rates are for the Australian income year, 1 July to 30 June: 2025–26 figures, plus the 2026–27 rates that apply from 1 July 2026.
This is a bookkeeping reference, not individualized tax advice. Apply the correct entity type, residency, province/state, employee location, accounting method and elections.
Income tax for individuals
Resident individuals pay tax on a progressive scale: each rate applies only to the slice of taxable income inside its band. The bands are the same in both years; only the second rate changes.
| Resident individual taxable income | 2025–26 | 2026–27 |
|---|---|---|
| Up to $18,200 | 0% | 0% |
| $18,201–$45,000 | 16% | 15% |
| $45,001–$135,000 | 30% | 30% |
| $135,001–$190,000 | 37% | 37% |
| Over $190,000 | 45% | 45% |
Income year 2025–26 (1 Jul 2025–30 Jun 2026): Rates exclude the generally applicable 2% Medicare levy and possible surcharge/offsets. Income year 2026–27 (1 Jul 2026–30 Jun 2027): From 1 Jul 2026 second bracket falls from 16% to 15%; rates exclude Medicare levy.
| Item | Rate or amount | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare levy2025–26 and 2026–27 | Generally 2% | Taxable income; low-income thresholds/exemptions can applyDo not treat as a flat final liability for every taxpayer; check threshold and surcharge circumstances. |
Business and company tax
Companies pay a flat rate on taxable income. Which rate applies depends on whether the company is a base rate entity for that year.
| Item | Rate or amount | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Company income tax2025–26 / 2026–27 | 25% eligible base-rate entity; 30% other company | Company taxable incomeBase-rate-entity test includes aggregated turnover below $50m and passive-income test; verify entity eligibility for each year. |
Payroll and super
From 1 July 2026 super guarantee moves from quarterly payments to Payday Super: it is calculated on qualifying earnings and paid with each pay run. PAYG withholding and Single Touch Payroll reporting run alongside it (see the calendar below).
| Item | Rate or amount | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Super guaranteeFrom 1 Jul 2025; Payday Super from 1 Jul 2026 | 12% | Eligible employee qualifying earnings from 1 Jul 2026; ordinary-time-earnings rules applied to earnings through 30 Jun 2026From 1 Jul 2026 use qualifying earnings and pay each payday; generally fund receipt by 7 business days after QE day, exceptions apply. |
GST
GST is charged on taxable supplies connected with Australia and reported on the business activity statement (BAS).
| Item | Rate or amount | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| GSTCurrent general rate | 10% | Taxable supplies connected with AustraliaInput tax credits, GST-free, input-taxed and special cases alter treatment. |
| GST registration thresholdCurrent threshold | $75,000 GST turnover | Most businesses/enterprisesDifferent thresholds/special rules apply to non-profit bodies, taxi/rideshare and non-residents. |
Filing and payment calendar
Coming up, as of 28 Sep 2026
- 21 Oct 2026September monthly activity statement, for monthly lodgers (21st of the following month).
- 28 Oct 2026Quarterly BAS for July to September 2026.
- 2 Nov 20262025–26 individual tax return for self-lodgers: 31 Oct 2026 is a Saturday, so it moves to the next business day.
- Every paydayPayday Super: the fund must generally receive the contribution within 7 business days after the payday.
The recurring rules are below. Dates marked Passed are 2026 examples that have already gone by; keep them as reference points, and check the agency's current calendar and any due date assigned to you before scheduling.
Income tax returns
Individual tax return (self-lodger baseline)
Income year ends 30 JuneDue31 October after income year-end
20262025–26 income-year baseline 31 Oct 2026 falls on Saturday; next-business-day date is 2 Nov 2026.
In the booksPrepare workpapers for business income/expenses, GST reconciliation, motor vehicle, home office, depreciation, PAYG instalments and substantiation.
Watch forRegistered tax agent clients may have program dates; overdue prior returns, extensions or special taxpayer classes affect dates. Weekend/holiday move applies.
Payroll and super
PAYG withholding reporting/payment
Assigned monthly/quarterly withholding cycleDueMonthly usually 21st following month; quarterly with BAS; large withholders have more frequent rules
2026Confirm client’s ATO-assigned cycle and BAS issue date
In the booksTie gross wages, PAYG withheld, payroll clearing and ATO payments each reporting period.
Watch forWithholding cycle is assigned based on withholding amounts; not all employers use the same dates.
Single Touch Payroll report/finalisation
Each pay event and year-endDueReport on or before payday for most; year-end finalise generally by 14 July
20262025–26 STP finalisation baseline 14 Jul 2026 Passed
In the booksReconcile employee year-to-date gross, tax, super and termination amounts to payroll ledger and finalisation declaration.
Watch forClosely held payees and approved deferrals have different timing. Use current STP rules.
Quarterly super payment (earnings to 30 Jun 2026)
Quarterly SG periods through 30 Jun 2026Due28 Oct, 28 Feb, 28 Apr, 28 Jul
2026Final legacy quarterly period Apr–Jun 2026 due 28 Jul 2026 Passed
In the booksReconcile SG at employee level, check clearing-house payment date and fund receipt; review any shortfall.
Watch forFor obligations up to 30 Jun 2026; missed/late payment can trigger SGC.
Payday Super (qualifying earnings paid from 1 Jul 2026)
Each payday/QE dayDueFund must generally receive contribution within 7 business days after QE day
2026Applies to paydays from 1 Jul 2026 onward
In the booksMatch 12% calculated liability to each pay run, payment file, fund receipt and STP qualifying earnings data.
Watch forExtended timing may apply in specified situations including certain new employees; confirm ATO exceptions.
GST and BAS
Quarterly BAS/GST return and payment
Quarter ending Sep, Dec, Mar, JunDue28 Oct, 28 Feb, 28 Apr, 28 Jul respectively
2026For FY2026–27: Sep 2026 BAS baseline 28 Oct 2026
In the booksReconcile GST control to sales/purchases, bank deposits, marketplace fees, credit notes and BAS labels.
Watch forOnline lodgment or tax/BAS agent concessions may extend dates for some quarters; quarter 2 and some obligations differ. Check issued statement.
Monthly activity statement
Calendar monthDue21st of following month
2026August 2026 statement baseline 21 Sep 2026 Passed
In the booksReconcile GST and PAYG withholding to monthly ledger and payroll run.
Watch forStatement itself controls; entity may have different assigned lodgment cycle.
Month-end checks for these taxes
At each BAS cycle and pay run, these are the tax accounts to reconcile before anything is lodged.
GST/PAYG/ATO control accounts
Each BAS cycleDoReconcile GST collected/credits and PAYG withholding/instalments to activity statements and ATO account.
KeepTax-code report, BAS workpapers, ATO account statement
NoteGST-free, input-taxed, private use and adjustment rules require transaction-level coding.
Super guarantee / payday super
Every pay run from 1 Jul 2026DoReconcile employee-level SG basis, rate, clearing file and fund receipt; from 1 Jul 2026 track qualifying earnings by pay event.
KeepPayroll register, SG calculation, payment batch, fund confirmation, STP data
Note12% headline rate; eligibility and earnings basis must be checked.
Every close, in every country
These checks sit underneath the tax accounts. If they are not done, the tax figures above cannot be trusted. The month-end close article covers the rhythm.
- Bank and payment processor reconciliation (monthly): Reconcile every operating, tax, payroll, card, marketplace and loan account to statement; investigate uncleared and duplicate items. Do not post a plug to force the reconciliation.
- Revenue completeness and cut-off (monthly; especially period end): Reconcile invoicing/order systems to ledger, deposits, returns, refunds, chargebacks, discounts, shipping and sales tax. Use accrual/cash method selected for the entity and follow applicable tax rules.
- Expense completeness and classification (monthly): Check statements, receipts, AP, recurring subscriptions, owner/personal items, prepaid expenses and accrued liabilities. Keep personal and business spending distinguishable; verify deductibility separately.
- Inventory and cost of sales (monthly where material; formal count at least annually): Reconcile opening stock + purchases/landed cost − closing stock to cost of sales; test counts and identify shrinkage/obsolete goods. Inventory tax/accounting methods depend on jurisdiction and entity.
- Payroll control accounts (every payroll and monthly close): Tie gross pay, employee deductions, employer charges, net pay, tax authority liabilities and payments to payroll register. Review classification, taxable benefits, leave accruals and jurisdiction-specific employer taxes.
- Accruals, prepayments, fixed assets and debt (monthly/quarterly): Update depreciation, amortisation, accrued expenses, prepaids, debt principal/interest and asset disposals. Tax depreciation and financial-statement depreciation may diverge; track separate tax schedules.
- Trial balance review and financial pack (monthly): Review unusual balances, suspense, negative assets/liabilities, margin trends, cash runway and balance sheet movements. Management reports should state basis, period, currency and known limitations.
- Tax package and records (year-end): Freeze year-end ledger, document adjusting entries, provide reconciliations and retain source documents in an indexed archive. Retention periods differ by record type and jurisdiction; verify before destruction.
Official sources
Each figure above traces to one of these ATO pages, all checked on 28 Sep 2026. Review annually and whenever an agency changes a rate, threshold, payroll rule or due date. Keep prior-year rates when closing earlier books.
- Resident individual income tax ratesATO · Resident tax brackets by Australian income year; Medicare levy is separate.
- Personal income tax rate changesATO · Legislated 2026–27 resident rate change from 16% to 15% in second bracket.
- Super guarantee ratesATO · SG rate 12% from 1 July 2025; rate table by period.
- Payday Super: overviewATO · From 1 July 2026, 12% SG on qualifying earnings, paid each payday.
- Payday Super payment deadlinesATO · Fund receipt timing: generally 7 business days after qualifying earnings day, with exceptions.
- BAS due datesATO · BAS cycles, quarterly and monthly due dates; concessions depend on lodgment channel/agent.
- GST registration thresholdATO · GST registration threshold and special cases.
- Lower company tax rateATO · 25% lower rate for eligible base-rate entities; otherwise generally 30%.
- Single Touch Payroll employer reporting guidelinesATO · STP reporting and year-end finalisation requirements.
- Activity statement due datesATO · Activity-statement due dates and reporting cycle rules.
A rate is only right for the right period, entity and place. Check all three before you post it.
Bookkeeping reference, not tax advice. Rules change; confirm your own situation with a registered tax professional before you file.