Short answer
You can amend an Australian tax return within 2 years of receiving your notice of assessment via myTax (the same channel you used to lodge). Self-amendment is free, immediate, and avoids almost all penalty risk if you're correcting a genuine mistake.
If a Tax Agent lodged your return, they handle the amendment — but you can also amend it yourself if needed.
Step-by-step: amend in myTax
1. Log into MyGov + open ATO
https://my.gov.au → Australian Taxation Office tile → "Manage tax returns"
2. Select the financial year
Pick the year you want to amend. myTax shows "Amend" button next to lodged returns within the 2-year window.
3. Click "Amend"
myTax loads your original return with all fields editable.
4. Make your changes
Common edits:
- Add missed income (forgot a job, bank interest, crypto sale, share dividend)
- Add missed deductions (forgot to claim WFH, union fees, donations)
- Correct over-claimed deductions (you realised you can't actually claim something)
- Update bank details (if your original refund went to a closed account)
5. Review the recalc
myTax shows the new estimated refund or balance owing before you submit.
6. Submit
ATO processes most amendments within 14-30 days. If you owe money, pay by the due date in the amended notice to avoid interest.
What if myTax doesn't show "Amend"?
| Reason | Solution |
|---|---|
| Outside 2-year window | Use form NAT 2843 (paper amendment) — manual processing 4-12 weeks |
| Original lodged by a Tax Agent | Ask your Tax Agent to amend (faster) — or apply manually with NAT 2843 |
| Complex original (business, trust, multi-entity) | Engage a Tax Agent — myTax doesn't handle entity-level amendments |
| ATO has already started an audit | Don't self-amend — engage a Tax Agent immediately |
Common amendment scenarios
"I forgot to add my bank interest"
Just amend in myTax — add the interest amount + the source bank. Recalc takes seconds. ATO matches the amendment against the data they already have; no follow-up needed.
"I claimed too many deductions and now realise I can't"
Amend in myTax — reduce the deduction figure. You'll owe back the over-refund + interest (typically charged at the General Interest Charge rate, around 11% p.a.).
Voluntary correction = no penalty. Waiting for ATO to find it = 25-75% penalty.
"I need to add a Capital Gain I forgot"
If under $2,000 CG: amend in myTax, add to the CGT schedule.
If larger or complex (multiple disposals, crypto across exchanges, foreign asset): engage a Tax Agent. CGT amendments often interact with Net Capital Loss carryforward — easy to misfile if you don't run the full calc.
"My employer reissued my PAYG payment summary"
If the new figures differ significantly from your lodged return — amend in myTax. Use the corrected summary figures. ATO matches to current employer data.
Multiple amendments
You can amend multiple times within the 2-year window. Each amendment supersedes the prior — there's no "max" on the number of corrections, but each one is reviewed.
If you've amended 3+ times, it suggests record-keeping issues — worth talking to a Tax Agent about a clean process for next year.
When you should use a Tax Agent for an amendment
- Amount involved > $2,000
- ATO has already contacted you about the issue
- Multiple categories changing at once
- CGT, foreign income, trust, or business income involved
- Original return was lodged by a Tax Agent (cleaner to amend through them)
- You're outside the 2-year self-amendment window
a registered tax agent (see the directory) If you need to amend a return we originally lodged, contact us — it's typically a small additional scope, not a full new return.
See forgot income guide for the voluntary-disclosure framework, or main decision guide for the broader picture.
Need Help With Your Tax Return?
Complex situation? a registered tax agent (see the directory) Our partner agents review every detail for accuracy and compliance.
*Disclaimer: This is general information only and does not constitute personal tax advice. Consult a registered tax agent for advice tailored to your specific situation. Always verify against the latest ATO guidelines at ato.gov.au.*
This is general information only. Amendments with penalty exposure benefit from TPB Registered Tax Agent involvement.