Tax question
Online tax agent vs myGov — which one's actually better?
Short answer
For most Australians, yes. myGov is free but only shows you ATO fields — no advice, no deduction prompts, and no extension. An online tax agent like Night Tax AI prompts you for deductions specific to your job, reviews the return for accuracy, and gives you until 15 May to lodge. From $79.
myTax (via myGov) is the free ATO option. Online tax agents charge a fee. So the real question is: what does the fee actually get you? Here's an honest breakdown.
What myGov gives you
myTax is free, secure, and pre-fills your income from the ATO. It works well for simple returns. What it doesn't do: prompt you for deductions, tell you if you're claiming something wrong, warn you about audit risk, or extend your deadline.
You're essentially typing numbers into ATO forms. If you know exactly what you can claim, myTax is fine.
What an online tax agent gives you
A registered tax agent takes legal responsibility for your return. With Night Tax AI, that means: our AI walks you through occupation-specific deduction questions, a qualified tax agent reviews everything before lodgement, and you get an extension to lodge (usually to 15 May).
The average Australian claims a couple of hundred dollars more in deductions with an agent because they're prompted for things they'd otherwise forget — home office hours, self-education, tools, insurance, professional memberships.
When each option is right
myGov / myTax: one PAYG job, no side income, minimal deductions, confident lodger.
Online tax agent like Night Tax AI: home office, sole trader income, multiple jobs, rental property, investments, crypto, first-time lodger, or you just want someone else to check it.
The price difference — $0 vs $79 — is usually far outweighed by the deductions you'll be prompted to claim.
Related questions
- When is myGov the right choice?
- myGov (myTax) is fine if you have a single PAYG job, no work-related deductions above $300, no home office, no side income, and no rental or investment income. If that's you, and you're confident, it's genuinely free.
- Do tax agents actually find more deductions?
- Usually yes. myTax doesn't prompt you — it just shows fields. A tax agent (or Night Tax AI's occupation-specific AI) knows that nurses can claim shoes and stethoscopes, tradies can claim protective clothing, and teachers can claim self-education, and asks about each one.
- Do I get an extension with an online tax agent?
- Yes. If you're on a registered tax agent's client list before 31 October, you generally have until 15 May the following year to lodge — even if you missed the direct-lodger deadline.
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.