Loading
Last updated 15 Apr 2026 · 296,289 views

How do I check my tax return's status?

No need to call us – simply check your tax return status by using the ATO app, or in just a few clicks check online via myGov. Easy as!

Remember, most tax returns lodged online can take 2-4 weeks to process. Paper returns can take 7 weeks to show in the system.

To check the progress in the app:

  • log in to the ATO app

  • select Your tax return for 2023–24 and your status will display.

To check the progress in myGov:

  • sign in to myGov

  • select ATO from your linked services

  • from the home page select Manage tax returns

  • then select the income year you are checking and your status will display.

What does balancing account mean in ATO online services?

Balancing account means that we have the result of your return, and we’re working out your refund or bill amount based on your account balance.

If you have a debt or a credit with us or another Australian Government agency, it'll be taken into account at this stage. Your return will still take a few more days while we review your accounts.

Why is my tax return showing as ‘cancelled?’

A cancelled transaction on your income tax account doesn’t necessarily mean your return has stopped processing, your return may be on hold.

We may be reviewing your return to ensure you have included all the information that has been reported to us. As a result, your return might show as cancelled for 24-48 hours.

It’s important you don’t lodge again while this is happening, this can slow things down. Please allow up to 2 weeks for your electronically lodged return to be finalised.

What does ‘extra time processing’ mean?

There are many reasons your return may take some extra time to process.

It’s important to not lodge again or lodge an amendment before your return finishes processing.

Calling us won’t speed up the process. If we do need more information from you or your tax agent to help us finalise your return, we’ll reach out.

What’s the difference between ‘processed’ date and ‘effective’ date?

The processed date is the date we finish processing your return and update your tax account.

If you’re entitled to a refund, the effective date is usually the date we send your refund to your financial institution. You’ll need to check with your financial institution to find out how long it may take for them to process your refund.

If you have a tax bill, the effective date will be the date your payment is due.

Why is my refund lower than my estimate?

Your estimate is just that – an estimate. This can change based on a few reasons:

  • you have amounts owing to other government agencies like Centrelink or child support

  • your study loan balance is different to what you input

  • you over claimed your private health insurance rebate

  • you made a mistake on your return and we needed to correct it to match the information reported to us from another source (like your bank)

It’s best to wait until your return has finalised so you can review the changes on your Notice of Assessment.

If your Notice of Assessment shows a different amount to your account balance, refer to your Statement of Account.

If you do find yourself with a bill you can’t pay in full, don’t stress. Head to our article to help with  Setting up an ATO payment plan. It can all be done online – easy as that.

What’s the status on my tax return mean?

Your return goes through different phases. If we need extra information throughout the process, we’ll contact you. You might see one or more of these statuses as it processes:

This status might pop up at two points during processing.

  • We’ve got your return and started processing it

  • We’ve finalised your return and will issue your notice of assessment.

We’re getting all the information we need to finish up your return.

Your return is being reviewed manually. This takes time and can involve checking your past returns.

We’ve got the result of your return and are working out your refund or bill. We also check the result of your return with other Australian Government agencies – this can take a few extra days.

We need more time to finish processing your return.

We’ve finished processing your return. You can view your estimated assessment issue date using the drop-down arrow.

Your return is processed and, you can see your refund or bill. If you have a bill, select the Notice of assessment link to view the due date. Can’t pay it in full? Check out our article Setting up an ATO payment plan.

Kevmairu-2(Newbie)Newbie
20 Jan 2026

Hi ato team I have lodged my amended return for the year 2023-2024 it’s been 6 Months and the status is still saying balancing account


what should I do

26 July 2025

@mytaxreturn

Is there an issue with returns getting stuck in the system? As mine has been on the same status and date for weeks. I'm seeing alot of comments from people with the same problem and the help information just tell us it will be a few days and not to call as you can not help so do we just hope its not a systems issue and at some point it will progress without intervention? Issue date showing as 15/07/2025 but still showing as balancing account. (just 2 weeks longer then the 48hour !note advises) Plus the same year return is showing as original assessment not lodged despite being listed in history also.

Billy.stew00(I'm new)I'm new
26 July 2025

Hi! I lodged my tax return on July 1st and the status still shows as processing. I haven’t received a notification saying it may take longer than 4 weeks. Can i expect it to be processed within 4 weeks?

foreign_slave(I'm new)I'm new
25 July 2025


Hello, ATO

I'm commenting on the ATO online request service because it doesn't help anything.


7 Jul 2025

11 Jul 2025

Cancellation of Tax return Individuals - Income Tax for the period from 01 Jul 24 to 30 Jun 25



5 Jul 2025

11 Jul 2025

Tax return Individuals - Income Tax for the period from 01 Jul 24 to 30 Jun 25


Nothing has changed since then, but if there is a reason for the delay, you should at least let me know the reason by e-mail, should I just wait?









PoppyD(Newbie)Newbie
13 Feb 2025

Hi ATO Team,


I'm at a loss in how to proceed. Everything I have read online I've done and all I ever do is get hung up on by a robot.


I'm trying to find out where my refund is 31 weeks after lodgement.


log in to ato and it says balancing account. Now that seems to mean you require extra time to manually process it by checking with other government agencies and should take no longer than 10 weeks..... 31 weeks on still nothing.


I have never delt with Centre Link as i have never needed their services. I don't have any biological kids so no child support to chase up. The ATO and Medicare are the only government agencies I deal with, and I owe Medicare nothing.


I followed the suggestions of calling the self-help line 13 28 61 and 13 28 65 (suggested by the ATO website). Which lead to being hung up on the robot.


How do you speak to an actual person? It's ridiculous how you can't communicate with the ATO.


PoppyD

rodribn(Newbie)Newbie
26 Nov 2024

Hi ATO team,


I lodged my Tax in early July, and it still shows a balancing account. I tried calling individual support, but it gave me that bot response with the same content viewed on my ATO account.


I spoke to my tax agent, who got a protocol # from my case ([removed by moderator]). He told me that the ATO confirmed that it would be clear soon. This feedback was received two weeks ago.


I'm unsure what else is pending, as I have no outstanding debts from any Australian Service. I'm seeking this refund to pay for my kid's public school (2025 1st term) since we are not permanent residents yet.


I would appreciate proper feedback with clear instructions.

Sazman71(Newbie)Newbie
11 Nov 2024

They really don’t give a rats @&$

I did my tax return. Last year July forgot had to amend did the right thing .

My return was calculated i got the sms were processing need extra time don’t need to contact us we will contact you Blah Blah October 24 1 year snd 3 months later never heard anything no email no letter nothing did this years return before Oct 31 had to ring to re establish my my gov account waz told that my return was still there and she’s going to get the audit team to prioritise? Ok thank you that’s good to know after 15 months of nothing and You Guessed it the Balancing account again on this years return so like everyone else caught up in this legal way to hold money without any repercussions to the ato but be late and we’re going to fine you $330 per month .

I wish I could fine them $330 a month

Im not bothering to call them or contact anyone in the ato it’s not anyone’s doing or a personal thing against me it’s the system itself

Im unemployed now in need of that money to pay bills etc

I did this years just in time not to let them have another excuse and fine me they have no intention of refunding anything a law unto themselves. I will be making a complaint to the tax ombudsmen so hopefully this ridiculous manipulation of there legal wording to do as they wish

Why would you do this again the return was simple and straight forward

BALANCING ACCOUNT I know what it means checking with other gov etc

May take 2weeks to process online

The penny dropped when the lovely lady on the phone said about the aug 2023 amendment which was not in my benefit in anyway which apparently still has not been balanced that they have not even done anything to even do a refund now there’s a credit from last year a credit from this year a balancing account from both years and let’s say that it’s ok they don’t need to do anything and I’m sure they may complete it whether it’s a debit or credit the whole point of this complaint to the ombudsman is DONT TREAT PEOPLE LIKE WERE IDIOTS OR EVERYONE IS A TAX EVADER .

Threaten with fines that’s ok if it’s warranted but then to just do nothing about people’s tax returns 1-2 years for your own reasoning without any consequences or care.


So lovely people of Australia understand what your dealing with it’s not corrupt in anyway it’s unjust and has this fear factor that we are the ato and we’re balancing accounts and going to fine you


i Think it works both ways 2 wrongs don’t make a right no hang on it’s 1 right 1 wrong makes a right

No it’s 1 right and 1 wrong makes 2 wrongs 1 right 3 undecided a balancing pending debit credit account interest added for late fines the teams going to prioritise the return and we have added last years to this years so I may get an outcome once they work out to credit and make it a debit in 3 yrs time

One must turn a joke into a joke and really don’t worry about a ruthless relentless gov body so we can pay back china all the money we’ve borrowed I hope my few thousand helps out


MThomas(Newbie)Newbie
6 Nov 2024

I submitted my tax return on 22 October and on 4 November I logged in to my account and can see that my status as of 30 October is "Issued". I have not received my refund and come to think of it I have not received any SMS or email communication either. How long would it normally take to go from "Issued" to having the refund in my account?

jobbl(Newbie)Newbie
1 Nov 2024

Lodged mine 12 September and have an Issued notification from 19 September. The return is still not in my account and all my bank details are correct. Where is my return!!!

BMako(Newbie)Newbie
28 Oct 2024

Hello,

I've lodged my Tax on 14 of July, And it's still on balancing account. Tried calling the individual support but it just having that autonomous response about the same thing that is viewed on my ATO account. Got no mail, email, or sms from ATO since 10 of August. And there is no message either on my ATO account or myGov account.


Can you shed any light on this because it's been long time now.

Chastle(I'm new)I'm new
30 Aug 2024

Lodged on the 15th of July online and still says " in Progress - Under Review" today. Why has my tax return taken longer than 30 calendar days and it seems that it’s not progressing.

Loading
Where's my tax return? | ATO Community