Think your tax return is finished once you hit “submit”? Not necessarily.
Many Australians have already lodged their 2025–26 tax return, and for some, the process is now complete. But what happens if you discover something was missed, find an important document, or receive information after you’ve lodged?
The good news is that lodging your tax return isn’t always the end of the story. If you discover an error or new information that affects your return, there may be an option to amend it.
What If You Find Something After Lodgment?
It’s not uncommon for information to arrive after a tax return has been lodged.
You might:
- Receive an income statement or payment summary you hadn’t previously seen.
- Find a dividend statement or interest information after lodging.
- Locate receipts or records you thought were lost.
- Realise an income source wasn’t included in your return.
- Notice that something in your tax return doesn’t match your own records.
- Discover that a deduction or other information was entered incorrectly.
Finding something after lodgment doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve done anything wrong. However, it’s important to assess whether the new information changes your tax position.
Can You Change an Already-Lodged Tax Return?
In many circumstances, yes.
If you’ve left something out, made an error, or received new information that affects your return, you may be able to request an amendment.
However, it’s important not to automatically make changes without first checking what the new information means and whether an amendment is actually required.
The ATO generally recommends waiting until your original tax return has been processed before requesting an amendment.
Don’t Panic — Get Advice First
If you lodged your tax return yourself and have since discovered something you’re concerned about, don’t panic and don’t assume you’ve missed your opportunity to fix it.
Before making an amendment, it can be worthwhile getting professional advice to determine:
- Whether the information actually affects your tax return.
- Whether an amendment is required.
- What supporting records you may need.
- Whether the correction could result in additional tax, a larger refund or no change at all.
If your tax professional prepared and lodged your return, contact them as soon as possible and provide the new information. They can review the situation and determine what, if anything, needs to be done.
A Tax Return Isn’t Always the Final Step
Keeping an eye on your records after lodgment can help ensure your tax affairs remain accurate.
If you’ve discovered information that may affect your 2025–26 tax return and you’re unsure what to do next, get in touch with us.
Call DFV today, and we’ll help you work through the issue, determine whether your return needs to be amended, and make sure any necessary corrections are handled properly.