The 30 June tax planning checklist

Aug 10, 2026

—

Almost everything that reduces your tax has to happen before 30 June. After that date your accountant is a historian, not an adviser. This is what is worth reviewing while there is still time to act.

For individuals

Superannuation

Work out your remaining concessional cap — $32,500 for 2026–27, less what your employer has already contributed
Check your carry-forward amount in ATO online services if your total super balance was under $500,000 at 30 June last year
Make any personal contribution with time to be received by the fund, then lodge a notice of intent to claim and get written acknowledgement
Consider a spouse contribution if your partner’s income is low

Timing

Prepay deductible expenses where it makes sense — income protection premiums, professional subscriptions, and interest where prepayment rules allow
Bring forward deductible purchases you were going to make anyway
Defer income where you legitimately can and next year’s rate will be lower
Note this is timing, not magic — a deduction brought forward is a deduction you do not have next year

Investments

Review unrealised capital losses. Realising a loss before 30 June can offset gains made during the year — but the decision must be driven by investment merit, not just tax, and wash sale arrangements attract ATO attention
Check whether an asset you are about to sell will pass the 12-month mark for the 50% CGT discount — sometimes waiting a fortnight is worth a great deal
Get a depreciation schedule for any investment property that does not have one

Records

Reconcile your working from home hours log for the full year — and if it has gaps, start recording properly now
Take a 30 June odometer reading if you use a logbook
Photograph loose receipts before the thermal paper fades

For businesses

Before 30 June

Review your shareholder loan account. Division 7A options exist during the year that do not exist after it — see our Division 7A article
Write off genuinely bad debts — the write-off must be physically recorded before year end, not decided afterwards
Review your stock and write down or scrap obsolete items
Scrap and write off assets you no longer use, rather than leaving them on the register
Pay employee super early enough to be received — and note that under Payday Super this should already be happening every pay run
Review your asset purchases and the write-off provisions currently available to your business
Declare trust distributions by 30 June. A trustee resolution made late can result in the trustee being taxed at the top marginal rate

Structural questions worth asking now

Is your current structure still right for where the business has got to?
Are personal and business finances properly separated?
If you are approaching a sale, do you meet the conditions for the small business CGT concessions? Some conditions are tested well before the sale
Do you have loans that need reviewing before you refinance? See our note on loan structuring

Two cautions

Do not spend a dollar to save 30 cents. Buying something you do not need in order to get a deduction leaves you worse off by the other 70 cents. A deduction is a discount, not a rebate.

Be wary of anything that only makes sense for the tax outcome. Arrangements whose dominant purpose is obtaining a tax benefit attract anti-avoidance provisions. If a scheme is being sold to you primarily on its tax result, have it reviewed independently before you sign.

The single best thing you can do

Have the conversation in April or May, not late June. Most of the useful options need lead time — a contribution needs to reach the fund, an agreement needs to be signed, a valuation needs to be obtained. By the last week of June, most of the list above has already closed.

Need a hand with this?

We run pre-30-June planning reviews for business clients and for individuals with more going on than a simple return. If you are expecting a capital gain, a bonus, a redundancy or a business sale this year, book it in early.

Book a consultation

Call 0410 250 400

Sources

This article is general information only and does not take your personal circumstances into account. Rates and thresholds are current at the date of publication. Speak to us before acting on anything you read here.