30 June Tax Checklist: 9 Moves Before EOFY 2026

Tom is 38, a senior project manager in Sydney earning $110,000 a year. Last financial year he got a $600 tax refund. This year, using just three of the moves below, he is on track for a saving worth over $4,200 — without earning a dollar less. The difference is knowing what to do before 30 June.

Every move on this list is legal, ATO-approved, and available right now. Most take less than 20 minutes to action. And every single one disappears on 1 July — so if you are reading this in May or June, you still have time.

The Move You Cannot Miss: 2020–21 Carry-Forward Super Expires 30 June

The carry-forward concessional contribution rule lets you use unused cap space from the past five financial years — but that window rolls forward every year. The 2020–21 year cap was $25,000. Any unused portion from that year expires permanently on 30 June 2026. After that date it is gone forever, with no exception and no way to recover it.

To be eligible, your total super balance must have been below $500,000 on the previous 30 June. The ATO's online services show your exact available carry-forward balance: myGov → ATO → Super → Information → Carry-forward concessional contributions.

Tom's numbers: In 2020–21, Tom's employer was contributing 9.5% SGC on $105K = $9,975. The cap was $25,000. Tom's unused amount: $15,025 — still on the clock. At his current 37% marginal rate, contributing that $15,025 saves him 22 cents per dollar in tax: $3,306.

Top Up Concessional Super to the $30,000 Cap

The concessional contribution cap for 2025–26 is $30,000. This includes your employer's SGC (12% from 1 July 2025), any salary sacrifice, and any personal deductible contributions. Every dollar you contribute concessionally is taxed at 15% inside super instead of your marginal rate — saving up to 32 cents per dollar for someone on $190,000 in the 37% bracket (Stage 3).

Assumes 12% SGC, 15% super tax. Source: ATO — Concessional contributions cap

Tom's numbers: SGC = $13,200. Remaining cap = $16,800. If Tom makes a personal deductible contribution of $16,800 before 30 June and lodges his s290-170 notice, his taxable income drops from $110,000 to $93,200. Tax saving at 37% marginal rate less 15% contributions tax: $3,696.

Prepay These 5 Expenses Before 1 July

Individuals can prepay deductible expenses up to 12 months in advance and claim them in the current financial year. The payment must be made before 30 June and the prepayment period must not extend beyond 30 June 2027.

The five most valuable expenses to prepay this June:

• Professional memberships and subscriptions — CPA, CA ANZ, AHPRA, Law Society, AITSL, engineering bodies. Renewal due in July? Pay it now.
• Union fees — Fully deductible, no substantiation required for amounts under $300.
• Income protection insurance premiums — Premiums paid outside of super are generally fully deductible. Pay next year's premium this month.
• Investment loan interest — If your lender allows it, prepaying the next 12 months of interest on an investment property loan pulls the entire deduction into 2025–26.
• Journals, subscriptions, and software — Annual subscriptions to work-related software, databases, or industry publications directly related to your role.

Tom's numbers: His CPA membership ($1,100), industry journal subscription ($480), and professional development software ($960) are all due in August. Paying all three now: $2,540 in deductions at 37% marginal rate = $939 back in his 2025–26 return.

Claim the Instant Asset Write-Off Before 30 June

If you run a business with annual turnover under $10 million, you can immediately deduct the full cost of eligible assets costing under $20,000 (excluding GST) — provided the asset is purchased and installed ready for use by 30 June 2026. There is no limit on how many assets you can claim.

Example: A consultant buying a $4,200 laptop and $1,800 monitor stand for their home office in June claims $6,000 immediately. At a 34.5% marginal rate: $2,070 back versus spreading depreciation over four years.

Crystallise Capital Losses Before 30 June

Capital gains realised in 2025–26 can only be offset against capital losses realised in the same year or carried forward from prior years. A loss you realise on 2 July cannot reduce a gain that settled on 28 June.

If you hold shares, managed funds, or crypto sitting at an unrealised loss, and you have had taxable capital gains this year, selling before 30 June locks in the offset. The 50% CGT discount still applies to gains held over 12 months — so a net gain that remains after offsetting a loss may still be halved.

The Three Areas the ATO Is Watching in 2026

The ATO has explicitly identified three areas where it expects to see inflated or unsupported claims in 2026 tax returns. If any of these apply to you, get your records in order before lodging.

1. Work-From-Home Expenses

The fixed rate is 70 cents per hour for 2025–26 (unchanged from FY2024–25). To claim it, you need a contemporaneous record — a diary, roster, timesheet, or calendar entries showing actual hours worked from home. An end-of-year estimate is not accepted. The ATO has stated clearly it will not accept reconstructed records.

Tom's position: He works from home 3 days a week (roughly 22 hours) and kept a Teams calendar as his record. 22 hrs/week × 48 weeks = 1,056 hours × $0.70 = $739.20 deduction. No receipts needed for the fixed-rate method.

2. Rental Property Deductions

The ATO is targeting properties where owners have blocked out periods for personal use but still claim full expenses for those periods. Only expenses incurred while the property was genuinely available for rent are deductible. Vacant periods during peak holiday season without active advertising are a red flag.

3. Mixed-Use Holiday Homes

If you own a property used partly for private purposes and partly for short-stay rental (Airbnb, Stayz), you must apportion expenses based on actual availability for rent. Claiming 100% deductibility on a property used privately for school holidays and summer is one of the most common audit triggers.