The Australian Tax Year
Australia's financial year runs 1 July – 30 June. Tax returns are lodged after 30 June, with the deadline of 31 October. You must lodge a return for every financial year you earned income in Australia.
Are International Students Resident for Tax?
This is the most important question. Most international students who stay in Australia for more than 183 days in a financial year are considered Australian tax residents (not related to visa status). As a tax resident, your tax-free threshold is AUD $18,200 — meaning income up to this amount is tax-free.
Tax Rates 2024-25
- $0 – $18,200: 0% (tax-free threshold)
- $18,201 – $45,000: 16%
- $45,001 – $120,000: 30%
Lodging Your Return
Option 1: myTax at myGov.gov.au — free, online, takes 30 minutes. Pre-fills income from employer records. Option 2: Use a registered tax agent — free community tax clinics available at many universities. Option 3: Paid tax agent (keeps 10–20% of your refund as fee — compare carefully).
Common Deductions for Students
- Work-related expenses (uniform, tools, work phone)
- Self-education expenses if your course is directly related to your current work
- Home office expenses if you work from home
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