CPA Australia urges caution on 2026 tax returns amid scam risks

CPA Australia has advised individuals not to rush their 2026 tax returns, warning that hasty submissions can increase the likelihood of errors and exposure to scams.

CPA Australia Tax lead Jenny Wong acknowledged the strong desire among many Australians to file early but stressed that speed should not come at the expense of accuracy.

Wong said: “Getting your tax return done early can be tempting, but it is important not to rush.

“Waiting until all your income information has been finalised and pre-filled by the ATO [Australian Taxation Office] will help ensure accuracy and reduce the risk of errors that can trigger reviews or delays.”

She referenced recent ATO figures indicating a shift in taxpayer behaviour, with fewer people lodging returns in the opening weeks of the tax season.

She said: “ATO figures show that by 22 July last year, 2.8 million individual tax returns had been lodged, which was a 4% decrease compared to the same time the previous year.

“By 12 August, around five million returns had been lodged, also slightly down on the prior year, with agent-lodged returns in particular trailing behind.

“This suggests more taxpayers may already be taking a more cautious approach, which is encouraging.”

The ATO advised that late July is typically the best time for lodging returns.

Wong encouraged taxpayers to allow sufficient time to complete their returns, making sure they have all the necessary records to support any claims and to avoid using estimates where possible.

The call for care follows ATO data showing that more than 595,000 individual returns were amended in the last financial year due to missing income, inflated deduction claims and other mismatches.

CPA Australia also highlighted the heightened risk of scams during tax time.

“Scammers use email, text messages and phone calls impersonating the ATO or tax agents to trick people into handing over personal information or money,” Wong said.