Tax Time Is Coming: Don't Be That Person Searching for Receipts on 30 June
A practical EOFY guide for landlords, property investors, homeowners and real estate professionals preparing for the 2025-26 tax season.
It's that time of year again.
The weather gets colder, the footy heats up, and suddenly Australians everywhere begin the annual scavenger hunt for receipts they swore they'd never lose.
If you're a property investor, homeowner, real estate professional, or anyone who enjoys keeping more of their hard-earned money, now is the perfect time to start preparing for the end of the financial year.
Before you roll your eyes and say, "I've got weeks until June 30," hear me out.
The people who get the best tax outcomes aren't usually the smartest. They're the most organised.
And let's be honest, being organised is much easier than explaining to your accountant why your "filing system" consists of screenshots, random emails, and a shoebox full of faded Bunnings receipts.
First Things First: Key Dates
Here's what matters:
30 June 2026
End of the financial year.
1 July 2026
You can begin preparing your tax return.
31 October 2026
Deadline if you're lodging your own tax return.
Using a Tax Agent?
You may receive an extended lodgement deadline, provided you're registered with a tax agent before the ATO cut-off dates.
Translation?
Don't wait until October 30 to start looking for documents.
Future You will appreciate Present You.
Property Investors: The Tax-Time MVPs
Property investors have more moving parts than most taxpayers.
While that can mean more paperwork, it can also mean more legitimate deductions.
Common expenses investors should gather include:
Property management fees
Council rates
Water rates
Landlord insurance
Loan interest statements
Repairs and maintenance invoices
Smoke alarm compliance costs
Safety checks and inspections
Gardening and maintenance invoices
Pest control invoices
Depreciation schedules
Accounting fees
Legal expenses (where applicable)
One of the biggest mistakes investors make is assuming their property manager automatically has every document they'll need.
We have a lot, but not always everything.
Now is a great time to create a folder called "Tax 2025-26" and start saving documents as they arrive.
Simple. Effective. Surprisingly adult.
Homeowners: Don't Assume There's Nothing To Claim
Many homeowners think tax time has nothing to do with them.
Not necessarily.
If you've worked from home, run a side business, rented out part of your property, or sold an investment asset during the year, there may be records you'll need.
Items worth gathering include:
Home office records
Electricity and internet bills
Mortgage statements
Capital improvement records
Rental income documentation (if applicable)
Asset sale records
The more information you have ready, the easier the process becomes.
Real Estate Agents: You're Usually The Worst At This
Sorry, but somebody had to say it.
Many agents are excellent at managing multi-million-dollar transactions while simultaneously having absolutely no idea where their own receipts are.
If you're working as a salesperson, director, property manager, or business owner, now is the time to organise:
Vehicle expenses
Logbooks
Mobile phone bills
Marketing costs
Professional memberships
Training and education expenses
Work-related travel records
Home office expenses
Remember:
The ATO loves documentation almost as much as agents love talking about auction results.
The Ultimate EOFY Checklist
Before 30 June, try to complete the following:
Download all bank statements
Download loan interest summaries
Save property management statements
Collect insurance documents
Gather rates notices
Organise repair invoices
Download superannuation summaries
Save work-related expense receipts
Update your vehicle logbook
Create a digital tax folder
Book your accountant appointment
Stop pretending you'll remember where everything is later
DIY Tax Return vs Tax Agent
This is the question everyone asks.
Should you do it yourself?
Or pay somebody else?
Doing It Yourself
Suitable for:
Employees with straightforward income
Minimal deductions
No investment properties
No businesses
Advantages:
✔ Free to lodge
✔ Quick and convenient
✔ Can be completed online
Disadvantages:
✘ Easy to overlook deductions
✘ Greater risk of mistakes
✘ No professional advice
✘ More time spent researching rules
For a straightforward return, DIY can work perfectly well.
Using A Tax Agent
Suitable for:
Property investors
Business owners
Contractors
Multiple income streams
Complex financial situations
Advantages:
✔ Professional advice
✔ Potentially identifies additional deductions
✔ Reduced stress
✔ Lodgement extensions available
✔ Tax agent fees are generally deductible next year
Disadvantages:
✘ Upfront cost
What Does A Tax Agent Cost?
Costs vary depending on complexity, but as a general guide:
Basic individual return:
$150 - $300
Individual with investments:
$250 - $600
Property investors:
$300 - $800+
Small business returns:
$500 - $2,000+
While nobody enjoys paying professional fees, many investors find the advice and time savings easily justify the cost.
A Few EOFY Tips Worth Knowing
1. Don't Lodge Too Early
Every year people rush to submit their return on 1 July.
Then they discover a document was missing.
Waiting until late July or early August often means more information has been automatically pre-filled by the ATO.
2. Keep Digital Copies
Your phone is now your filing cabinet.
Take photos of receipts and save them immediately.
Future you will be grateful.
3. Ask Questions Before 30 June
If you're considering property repairs, upgrades, purchases, or business expenses, speak with your accountant before EOFY.
Timing can matter.
4. Don't Guess
The ATO has become significantly more sophisticated in matching data.
If you're unsure whether something is deductible, ask.
A quick question today can prevent a much bigger problem later.
Final Thoughts
Tax time doesn't need to be stressful.
The secret isn't finding magical deductions or discovering hidden loopholes.
The secret is preparation.
Start gathering your documents now, organise your records, and make a plan before June 30 arrives.
Because every year there are two types of people.
The first group calmly sends their accountant a neat folder and enjoys a coffee.
The second group spends three hours searching their inbox for a receipt from August while questioning every life decision they've ever made.
Choose wisely.
🏡 Tax Time Doesn't Have To Be Taxing
At Us Real Estate, we know that tax time can feel overwhelming.
Between gathering invoices, downloading statements, tracking expenses, finding receipts you forgot existed, and trying to remember whether that repair happened in August or October, it's easy to see why many property investors leave everything until the last minute.
The good news?
You don't have to do it alone.
Whether you're a first-time investor, a seasoned landlord with multiple properties, a homeowner preparing records for your accountant, or simply trying to get organised before 30 June, a little preparation now can save a lot of stress later.
That's why we encourage our clients to start early by:
✔ Downloading and saving their End of Financial Year statements
✔ Organising invoices and maintenance records throughout the year
✔ Keeping copies of insurance, rates and compliance documents
✔ Speaking with their accountant before EOFY if they're planning major repairs, upgrades or purchases
✔ Asking questions before deadlines become urgent
Because let's be honest — tax time is stressful enough without trying to remember where you saved that invoice from nine months ago. 😅
Our team is always happy to assist landlords and investors with obtaining property records, statements and supporting documentation to help make tax time as smooth as possible.
While we're not accountants and can't provide taxation advice, we can certainly help point you in the right direction and ensure you have the documentation you need before meeting with your tax professional.
Whether you're:
🏠 Preparing your first investment property tax return
📂 Organising records for your accountant
📈 Growing your investment portfolio
🧾 Trying to make sense of your End of Financial Year statements
☕ Or simply wanting a smoother tax season this year
We're here to help make the process easier.
Your Us Real Estate Team
📞 Tamika Thurgood – 0401 431 484
✉️ [email protected]
📞 Monique Robins – (03) 8762 0128
✉️ [email protected]
✨ Here's to less paperwork, fewer missing receipts, smoother tax returns, and making tax time a little less stressful in 2026. ✨
Disclaimer
This article is intended for general information purposes only and should not be considered financial, taxation, accounting or legal advice. Tax laws and individual circumstances vary, and readers should seek advice from a qualified accountant, registered tax agent or financial professional before making any financial or taxation decisions. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, Us Real Estate accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on this information.