Tax question
What documents do I need for an online tax return?
Short answer
For most Australians: your TFN, myGov login (or ID for pre-fill), bank BSB and account for your refund, records of any deductions (receipts, logbook, home-office hours), and details of any income the ATO doesn't already know about — like rental, cash side-hustles or crypto.
Modern online lodgement needs way less paperwork than people think. Most of your income is already pre-filled from the ATO. Here's the actual checklist for a 2026 return with Night Tax AI.
The essentials — everyone
Your Tax File Number (TFN), full name and date of birth, current residential address, and a bank BSB and account number for your refund. Night Tax AI verifies your identity in-app; you don't need to send certified copies of anything.
Income — usually already pre-filled
Wages, tax withheld, allowances, bank interest, dividends, government payments, and super are reported to the ATO throughout the year. Night Tax AI pulls this data in automatically once you connect.
You only need to enter income the ATO doesn't automatically see: cash jobs, rideshare or delivery earnings, side-hustle income, rental income, foreign income, and crypto disposals.
Deductions — bring records of what you spent
Work-related expenses: receipts or bank statements for tools, uniforms, self-education, subscriptions, union fees, and professional memberships.
Home office: a diary or roster showing hours worked from home for the year (Night Tax AI helps estimate this).
Car use for work: a logbook if you're using the actual-cost method, or your total work kilometres for cents-per-km (up to 5,000 km).
Donations $2 or over to registered charities, and personal super contributions if you plan to claim a deduction.
Sole traders and small business — a bit more
ABN, business bank account details, a summary of income (Night Tax AI accepts uploads of Xero, MYOB or bank exports), and totals for expenses grouped by category. If in doubt, upload the raw file — our tax agent will sort it.
Related questions
- Do I need my PAYG payment summary?
- Usually no. Employers now report income directly to the ATO through Single Touch Payroll, so your wages, tax withheld and super appear automatically in Night Tax AI's pre-fill.
- What if I don't have receipts?
- You can claim up to $300 in work-related expenses and $150 in laundry without receipts, but you still need to show how you calculated the amount. Above that, keep digital receipts (bank statements, emails, app records) — the ATO accepts them.
- Do I need last year's tax return?
- Not required, but useful — especially for sole traders (depreciation and losses carry forward) and anyone switching from another accountant. Upload it as a PDF and Night Tax AI's tax agent will match up prior-year figures.
Start your return with Night Tax AI
AI-guided intake, registered tax agent review, lodged with the ATO within 48 hours. Individuals from $79, sole traders from $99.