Lodge free on myGov & the ATO
Data entry is the easy part. The genius is claiming every deduction you’re entitled to — which you’ve now worked out here. Two one-time steps and you can lodge free, forever.
Two steps, then free every year
Once you’ve done these two one-time steps you’ll never have to do them again — you can lodge free every year from then on, and even amend past returns for an Extra Refund.
In your ATO account you simply open the return you want to lodge and enter the totals from the Accounts Summary of Expenses you got here — emailed to you, printed, or read straight off freetaxreturns.com.au.
Get a myGov account
You probably already have one. If not, it takes a few minutes — full steps below.
Link myGov to the ATO
A one-time identity check connects your myGov to your tax account.
Step 1 · Get a myGov account
Open my.gov.au on any device and choose Create account, then follow along.
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Choose Continue with email (or use your myID — email is the simplest).
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Tick the two Terms of use boxes, then Next.
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Enter your email, then enter the code myGov sends to it.
- 4
Enter your mobile, then the code sent to your phone.
- 5
Create a password — at least 10 letters and 1 number (e.g. mypassword26). Tip: click Show to check it as you type.
- 6
Set 3 secret questions & answers. Choose ones you’ll never forget — and write them down somewhere safe just in case.
- 7
Done! Click Continue to go straight to Step 2.
Step 2 · Link myGov to the ATO
From your myGov home page:
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Click Link a service, then Link next to Australian Taxation Office.
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Click I agree, tick the Privacy notice and Declaration, then Start.
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Complete Confirm your identity (have your Tax File Number ready), then Continue.
- 4
Answer 2 of 4 identity questions. The easiest two are bank details and Notice of Assessment details — see the tip below.
The “bank details” the ATO holds is the account your refund is paid into — that may be your tax agent’s account, not yours. You can fix that and grab your Notice of Assessment details in one call.
Call 13 28 61, be patient, and say:
“Hi, my name is [your name]. I’d like to update my bank details, and I’d like the Date of Issue and Reference number from one of my Notices of Assessment (e.g. 2025).”
Have your account name, BSB and account number ready. Now you’ve got both answers you need to finish the link.
What you’ve just unlocked
Lodge free, every year
Never create myGov or link the ATO again — just do your biggest-refund accounts here each year and enter the totals.
Amend past returns
Recover refunds you missed in earlier years — see the Free Extra Refund guide.
See all your tax info
Notices of assessment, past returns, and your tax account (credits, charges, penalties) — all in one place.
Worth it even with an agent
Even if a tax agent lodges your biggest-refund accounts, having your own ATO access is well worth it.
Open myGov and lodge
Have your Accounts Summary of Expenses ready, then enter the totals into this year’s return.
Lodgement services are provided in partnership with registered tax agents.