- Now the financial year has ended, the priorities are finalising STP (due 14 July, do it now if outstanding), paying June-quarter super (by 28 July), and lodging
- The A$20,000 instant asset write-off is set to become permanent from 1 July 2026 (announced in the 2026-27 Budget, pending legislation), and Payday Super is now in effect.
- Clean, complete records are what make lodgement fast and your deductions defensible.
An EOFY checklist for a small business in Australia comes down to three things now that the 2025-26 financial year has closed: finalise and lodge what is due, gather clean records for your accountant, and set the new year up properly. Single Touch Payroll finalisation was due 14 July, so if it is not done, complete it now; June-quarter super is due 28 July.
Sleek can handle the whole end-of-year process so nothing slips. Work through the checklist below to close 2025-26 cleanly and start 2026-27 on the front foot.
What should be on your EOFY checklist?
With the 2025-26 year now closed, your checklist splits into what you must finalise for last year and what you set up for this one. The top actions right now are:
- Finalise Single Touch Payroll for 2025-26 by 14 July.
- Pay the April-June quarter super so your funds receive it by 28 July (still deductible in 2025-26).
- Reconcile your books and gather records for your accountant.
- Lodge your BAS and income tax return by the due dates for your cycle.
- Set up 2026-27 for the changes now in effect, including Payday Super.
The sections below turn each of these into dated actions. Our tax strategy explainer covers the planning side in more depth.
What should you action right now?
These are the live, time-sensitive tasks for the just-closed year, and two carry hard July deadlines. Do these first.
- Finalise STP (due 14 July): if you have not completed your Single Touch Payroll finalisation, do it now so employees’ income statements are marked tax ready in myGov, and lodge an update event if you finalised with an error.
- Pay June-quarter super by 28 July: the April-June contributions must be received by the fund by 28 July, and only count as a 2025-26 deduction if received in time. Note the Small Business Superannuation Clearing House closed permanently on 30 June 2026, so use an alternative.
- Write off bad debts and document trust resolutions: these had to be actioned by 30 June to count for 2025-26, so confirm they were done.
- Reconcile accounts: match bank feeds, invoices, and expenses so your figures are accurate before lodgement.
Which records should you gather for your accountant?
Handing your accountant a complete set of records is the single biggest thing that speeds up lodgement and protects your deductions. Pull these together for 2025-26:
- Income records: sales, invoices, and any other business income received.
- Expense records and tax invoices, especially for asset purchases claimed under the instant asset write-off.
- Bank and loan statements, plus merchant and interest records.
- Payroll and super records, including your STP finalisation.
- Motor vehicle logbooks and home-office hour records if you claim them.
Estimating from memory is where deductions get lost. See our accounting mistakes guide for the common ones.
What is due, and when?
Missing a lodgement date means penalties and interest, and the general interest charge is no longer deductible for charges incurred from 1 July 2025, so late debt costs more than it used to. The key dates for the just-closed year:
Task | Due date | Notes |
STP finalisation (2025-26) | 14 July 2026 | Marks employee income statements tax ready |
June-quarter super | 28 July 2026 | Deductible in 2025-26 only if received by the fund |
Self-lodged tax return | 31 October 2026 | For those not using a registered tax agent |
Tax return via tax agent | Around 15 May 2027 | If registered with the agent by 31 October |
BAS due dates depend on your reporting cycle, and a registered agent often has extended dates. See our cash vs accrual accounting guide for how your method affects the figures.
What are the common EOFY mistakes to avoid?
Most year-end pain is avoidable, and it clusters around timing and records. Watch for these:
- Missing the super window: contributions counted on the date the fund receives them, not the date you pay, so late transfers become non-deductible and attract the super guarantee charge.
- Buying assets just for the write-off: the A$20,000 instant asset write-off is useful, but only if the asset serves a real business need.
- Estimating deductions from memory: without records the claim is not defensible if the ATO asks.
- Forgetting the SBSCH has closed: if you relied on it, you need an alternative super payment method now.
- Ignoring an ATO debt: with interest charges no longer deductible, carrying a balance costs more, so review payment options.
How do you set up the new financial year?
The best EOFY work sets up an easier next one. A few changes take effect for 2026-27, so build them into your systems now while the year is fresh:
- Payday Super is now in effect from 1 July 2026, so employers generally pay super at the same time as wages, with contributions received by the fund within a few days of payday. Review your payroll process.
- The Government has announced the A$20,000 instant asset write-off will be made permanent from 1 July 2026. It is not yet law, but if legislated it gives more certainty than the old year-by-year renewals. Confirm its status before relying on it.
- The concessional super contributions cap rises to A$32,500 for 2026-27, up from A$30,000.
- The second marginal tax rate drops from 16% to 15% on income between A$18,201 and A$45,000 from 1 July 2026.
Set your bookkeeping up cleanly for the new year so next EOFY is a review, not a scramble. Good software makes this the default.
How Sleek handles EOFY for you
Now that 2025-26 has closed, your EOFY checklist is about finishing cleanly and starting well: finalise STP by 14 July, pay June-quarter super by 28 July, gather your records, and lodge on time, then set up for Payday Super and the A$20,000 instant asset write-off in 2026-27. Miss the July deadlines and penalties follow; hit them and the year closes without stress.
Sleek handles the whole process so you can focus on the business, not the paperwork. Our expert accountants finalise your books, lodge your BAS and tax return on time, and make sure your super and STP obligations are met, so you are not scrambling in July.
We also set your accounts up for the new year’s changes, including Payday Super.
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FAQs about the EOFY checklist for small business in Australia
What are the most important EOFY tasks for a small business?
Finalise your Single Touch Payroll for the year by 14 July, pay the June-quarter super so the fund receives it by 28 July, reconcile your books, gather records for your accountant, and lodge your BAS and tax return by the due dates. Getting super and STP right on time is the part most businesses trip on.
When is Single Touch Payroll finalisation due?
STP finalisation for the 2025-26 financial year is due by 14 July 2026. Completing it marks each employee’s income statement as tax ready in myGov, so they can lodge their own return. If you find an error after finalising, lodge an update event promptly and let the affected employee know.
Can I still claim super contributions for last financial year?
Yes, if the fund receives the April-June quarter contribution by 28 July. Super is counted on the date the fund receives it, not the date you send it, so allow processing time. Note the Small Business Superannuation Clearing House closed permanently on 30 June 2026, so you now need an alternative payment method.
Is the instant asset write-off still available?
Yes. The A$20,000 instant asset write-off applied for 2025-26, and the Government has announced it will become permanent from 1 July 2026 for eligible small businesses with aggregated turnover under A$10 million. That change was announced in the 2026-27 Budget and is before Parliament, so confirm it has passed before relying on it. The asset must be first used or installed ready for use in the year you claim it, and it must serve a genuine business purpose.
When do I need to lodge my business tax return?
If you lodge your own return, it is generally due by 31 October. If you use a registered tax agent and are on their books by 31 October, you usually get a later date, often around 15 May the following year. BAS due dates depend on your reporting cycle, and agents often have extended lodgement dates.
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What is Payday Super and does it affect me?
Payday Super is now in effect from 1 July 2026. Employers generally must pay super at the same time as salary and wages, with contributions received by the fund within a few business days of payday, rather than quarterly. If you employ staff, review your payroll and cash-flow systems now so contributions go out on time.
