To get your return done in one visit, bring proof of identity and your tax file number, all your income documents, records of the deductions and expenses you want to claim, your bank and investment statements, and details of anything that changed during the year. If you are a sole trader or run a business, add your business income and expense records. The more complete and organised what you bring, the faster and cheaper the appointment, because your accountant spends less time chasing missing pieces. The lists below break it down by category so nothing gets forgotten.
Personal details and identification
Start with the basics that let your accountant confirm who you are and where your refund goes:
your tax file number
a photo ID, such as a driver licence or passport, especially if it is your first visit
your bank account details, the BSB and account number, for the refund
your spouse or partner’s income details, if you have one, since some offsets depend on combined income
Most of this an existing accountant will already hold, but a new client should bring it.
Income documents
Your accountant needs a record of everything you earned. Depending on your situation, that includes:
your income statement from each employer, most of which are now finalised through the ATO and pre-filled
bank interest earned on savings accounts
dividend statements from shares
distribution statements from managed funds or ETFs
any government payments, such as Centrelink benefits
rental income, if you own an investment property
foreign income, if you earned any
details of any assets you sold, such as shares or property, for capital gains
Much of this is pre-filled by the ATO, but bringing your own records lets your accountant check the pre-fill is complete, especially early in the year while data is still arriving.
Deductions and expenses
This is where a good accountant saves you money, so bring everything that might be claimable:
receipts or records for work-related expenses
your motor vehicle logbook and car running costs, if you claim car expenses
home office records, such as hours worked from home and running costs
work-related education, tools, equipment, and union or professional fees
donations to registered charities
income protection insurance premiums
the fee you paid your accountant last year, which is deductible
If you are not sure whether something is claimable, bring it anyway and ask. It is better to let your accountant decide than to leave a legitimate deduction out.
Investments and assets
If you have investments, bring the paperwork that shows the income and any gains or losses:
annual tax statements from managed funds and ETFs
dividend and interest statements
records of shares, crypto, or property bought or sold during the year, including what you paid and what you received
any capital losses carried forward from previous years
These are the areas where mistakes are easy and deductions are missed, so complete records matter.
Life changes and other details
Some things only matter in the year they happen, and they are easy to forget:
your private health insurance statement
changes to your family situation, such as marriage, separation, or a new dependant
a new HECS or HELP debt, or one that has been paid off
starting or stopping a job, or becoming a sole trader
buying or selling a home or investment property
Mention anything that changed, even if you are unsure it is relevant, because these events often affect your tax.
If you are a sole trader or business
Business clients need to bring more. On top of the personal items above:
a summary of your business income for the year
records of your business expenses and receipts
your BAS and GST records, if you are registered
details of assets you bought, for depreciation
your logbook and vehicle costs, if you use a car for work
records of any money you drew from the business
Good bookkeeping through the year makes this simple, because the figures are already reconciled. Our tax planning checklist also lists what to have ready.
What if you are missing something?
Do not cancel the appointment just because you cannot find one document. Bring what you have, and your accountant will tell you what is still needed. Much of your income is pre-filled by the ATO, so gaps there are often already covered. For anything genuinely missing, they will give you a short list to send through afterwards, and the return waits only on those items. It is also worth reading our guide to tax return documents and deadlines before you go, so you arrive prepared.
