If your income statement in myTax shows "not tax ready", your employer simply hasn't finalised your Single Touch Payroll (STP) data with the ATO yet — it isn't an error on your return, and it isn't something you can fix yourself. You can technically lodge before it's tax ready, but the ATO's own guidance is to wait, because the figures on an unfinalised statement can still change. This is one of the most common questions AusTax AI sees from users trying to lodge in the first two weeks of July.
What does "not tax ready" actually mean?
Under Single Touch Payroll (STP), your employer reports your pay, tax withheld, and super to the ATO every pay cycle, not just once a year. Those pay-cycle reports aren't the final word, though. At year end, your employer has to submit a separate "finalisation declaration" confirming the full year's totals are complete and correct. Until that happens, myGov shows your income statement with a "not tax ready" tag and the underlying numbers are still provisional. In short, the tag reflects something your employer hasn't done yet, not something wrong with your information.
Why hasn't my employer finalised it yet?
Employers have a legislated deadline: 14 July for businesses with 20 or more employees, and 31 July for smaller employers with 19 or fewer. Plenty finalise in the first few days of July, but smaller employers juggling their own end-of-year bookkeeping often leave it closer to their deadline. A mid-year job change, a payroll system migration, or an employer who outsources STP finalisation to a bookkeeper can also push the timing later within that legislated window. The practical point: seeing "not tax ready" in the first two weeks of July is completely normal and not yet worth chasing up.
How long does it take to become tax ready?
There's no fixed countdown — the status flips the moment your employer lodges their finalisation declaration, which can happen any day up to their deadline. Most employees see the change within the first two weeks of July. If your statement is still "not tax ready" after 31 July, myGov's own advice is to contact your employer's payroll department directly, since the ATO is waiting on the same submission you are.
Can I lodge before it's tax ready?
Yes, myTax won't technically block you — but it's rarely worth it.
| Status shown in myTax | What it means | Should you lodge now? |
|---|---|---|
| Not tax ready | Employer hasn't finalised STP data | Generally wait |
| Tax ready | Employer has finalised; figures are final | Safe to lodge |
| Amended | Employer corrected an already-finalised statement | Re-check the updated figures first |
AusTax AI's dashboard flags any linked income statement still sitting at "not tax ready" before you start your return, so it's easy to see at a glance whether you're clear to proceed.
What if I lodge early and the numbers change?
If your employer later finalises a different figure than what you lodged with, the ATO generally picks up the change through its own data and may adjust your assessment or ask you to amend. That can mean a revised Notice of Assessment, a short delay, or a follow-up bill if the difference affects tax payable. None of it is serious, but it's extra admin for a problem a week or two of waiting would have avoided. Put simply, "not tax ready" is a wait-and-check status, not a reason to worry.
What should you actually do while you wait?
- Check the status under "Employment" in myGov, not just your payslips
- If it's past 31 July and still not ready, contact your employer's payroll team directly
- Confirm every income statement you're expecting for the year shows "tax ready" before you lodge
- If you had more than one employer this year, check each one separately — see our guide on multiple jobs and income statements in myTax
For most people, the FY2025-26 lodgment window runs to 31 October 2026 for self-lodgment — see our full FY2025-26 lodgment timeline and step-by-step myTax guide for what comes next. If your prefill data looks incomplete even after "tax ready" appears, our guide to missing prefill data in myTax covers what to check.
Need a professional? Browse every TPB-registered tax agent near you in the AusTax directory, or post a request and matching practices will contact you — free.
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, not personal tax advice. If your income statement remains "not tax ready" well after 31 July, confirm the reason with your employer or a Registered Tax Agent before you lodge.*