Save Thousands by Catching Up on Overdue Tax Returns

Behind on your Australian taxes as an expat or a foreign investor? Your backlogged tax returns don’t just disappear. They grow into fines, interest, and bigger ATO problems.

Odin offers a free overdue tax return check to get clarity on your backlogged tax returns. Just fill in the form, and we’ll review your tax history and the penalties you may have accumulated.

Even if you’re years late, lodging overdue returns can STILL save you money. The sooner you act, the more money and stress you save.

Why Act Now:

Personal Details

"*" indicates required fields

First Name*

Last Name*

Email Address*

Mobile Number*

Country of Residence*

When did you last lodge a tax return with the ATO?*

Message*

By proceeding, you agree to subscribe to our marketing resources & updates, and accept our Privacy Policy.

Disclaimer: We will add you to our tax agent portal once you have completed this form and, we can remove you at any time if required.

Australian Overdue Tax Return Preparation for Expats and Non-Residents

The ATO does not pause overdue obligations because you live overseas. ODIN Tax prepares multi-year lodgments, manages ATO penalty remission requests, and helps restore your account to compliance – handled entirely from abroad, no flight home required.

Clear my tax backlog with ODIN Tax

AU$330 penalty per 28 days overdue, up to AU$1,650 maximum per return |
GIC interest rate Jan-Mar 2026: 10.65% p.a., compounding daily |
10,000+ Australian expats served across 40+ countries

What actually happens when you leave overdue Australian tax returns unfiled?

Failure-to-lodge (FTL) penalties accrue at AU$330 for every 28-day period a return is overdue, capped at a maximum of AU$1,650 per return. General Interest Charge (GIC) runs on top at 10.65% per annum (January-March 2026 rate), compounding daily on any unpaid tax. Multiple unfiled years multiply these costs quickly. These figures are current as at the 2025-26 financial year and are subject to change quarterly by the ATO.

Cost component	Rate / cap	Compounds
Failure-to-lodge (FTL) penalty	AU$330 per 28 days; max AU$1,650 per return	Per the lodgment period
General Interest Charge (GIC)	10.65% p.a. (Jan-Mar 2026)	Daily on unpaid tax

These figures are current as at the 2025-26 financial year. Rates are set quarterly by the ATO and are subject to change.

Can penalties actually be reduced or waived for overdue returns?

Yes. The ATO has discretion to reduce or waive FTL penalties where a taxpayer engages proactively through voluntary disclosure. In one documented case, a client with a six-year lodgment backlog owed AU$23,710 in total obligations (AU$11,200 tax, AU$5,250 interest, AU$7,260 penalties), and ODIN Tax submitted a penalty remission request that was successful.

Proactive voluntary disclosure is the strongest remission argument available under ATO guidelines
ODIN Tax handles all ATO correspondence – clients do not speak to the ATO directly
Extended lodgment deadline: registered tax agents secure a May 15 deadline (vs. the standard October 31 self-lodgment deadline)
Penalty remission is not guaranteed; outcomes depend on individual circumstances and ATO discretion

What can expats recover when an overdue return is lodged late?

Overdue lodgments frequently release refunds that have been sitting unclaimed. In one ODIN Tax property case, a client lodged the correct CGT calculation following a withholding under the 15% Foreign Resident Capital Gains Withholding (FRCGW) regime. Negative gearing losses, Foreign Income Tax Offsets (FITO), and HECS/HELP corrections are also common items addressed through lodgment.

15% FRCGW withheld on property sales can be partially or fully recovered via lodgment
Non-residents lose the 50% CGT discount – correct calculation matters to avoid overpayment
FITO credits can offset Australian tax on foreign income already taxed overseas
Negative gearing losses on Australian rental properties reduce taxable income in the year lodged

How does ODIN Tax's overdue lodgment process work?

ODIN Tax handles the entire backlog in one coordinated engagement: document collection, year-by-year return preparation, ATO communication, and penalty remission requests. The process follows five key steps to bring your account back into compliance.

Step 1: Free ATO health check – ODIN Tax audits your ATO account and identifies every outstanding obligation
Step 2: Document collection – secure online process, no in-person meeting required
Step 3: Return preparation – all years prepared simultaneously by a specialist expat tax team
Step 4: Penalty remission – ODIN Tax submits remission requests directly with the ATO
Step 5: Confirmation – client receives ATO notice of assessment for each lodged year

“10,000+ Australian expats across 40+ countries have trusted ODIN Tax to resolve their Australian tax obligations. ODIN Tax holds a 4.9 out of 5 Google rating from 330+ verified client reviews.”

Our service guarantee: the Great Barrier Reef Guarantee

This is a guarantee of service delivery, not of any tax outcome, refund amount, or penalty waiver.

Once ODIN Tax has received your complete documents and both parties have agreed a lodgment deadline in your engagement letter, ODIN Tax commits to lodging your return by that deadline. If ODIN Tax misses the agreed deadline for reasons within its control, ODIN Tax will:

Reimburse its service fee in full for the affected return, and
Continue working on your return at no further charge until it is lodged.

The guarantee applies to ODIN Tax’s own service performance only. It does not guarantee any particular tax outcome, refund, ATO processing timeframe, or reduction or waiver of any penalty or interest charge. Those matters remain subject to ATO discretion and your individual circumstances.

Book a free ATO health check with ODIN Tax

Frequently Asked Questions

How many years of overdue Australian tax returns can ODIN Tax lodge?

ODIN Tax handles multi-year backlogs with no stated limit on the number of years. The firm has documented cases covering six or more years of overdue lodgments. All years are prepared and lodged in a single coordinated engagement, which also supports penalty remission arguments based on voluntary disclosure.

What is the failure-to-lodge penalty for an overdue Australian tax return?

The ATO charges AU$330 for every 28-day period a return remains overdue, up to a maximum of AU$1,650 per return as at the 2025-26 financial year. Penalties apply separately to each outstanding year. GIC interest also accrues daily on any unpaid tax balance at the current ATO rate, which is subject to quarterly change.

Can an Australian expat get overdue tax penalties waived?

Penalty remission is possible but not guaranteed. The ATO has discretion to reduce or waive FTL penalties where a taxpayer engages proactively through voluntary disclosure. ODIN Tax has assisted clients in submitting penalty remission requests, with outcomes depending on individual circumstances and ATO discretion.

Do I need to return to Australia to resolve an overdue tax return?

No. ODIN Tax manages the entire process remotely. Document collection is handled securely online, all ATO correspondence is managed by ODIN Tax directly, and notices of assessment are delivered digitally. Clients in Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, London, New York, and 40+ other countries have resolved multi-year backlogs without travelling to Australia.

What is the tax return deadline for Australian expats using a registered tax agent?

Australian expats lodging through a registered tax agent receive an extended lodgment deadline of May 15, compared to the October 31 self-lodgment deadline. ODIN Tax is a Registered Australian Tax Agent, so clients receive this extended deadline automatically when engaged before the standard due date.

What service commitments does ODIN Tax make on lodgment timelines?

ODIN Tax commits to preparing and lodging returns within a reasonable timeframe following receipt of complete client documentation. All lodgment timelines are confirmed in the engagement letter. Clients should contact ODIN Tax directly to discuss specific service terms for their engagement.

What is the Great Barrier Reef Guarantee and what does it cover?

The Great Barrier Reef Guarantee is ODIN Tax’s service-delivery guarantee. It covers ODIN Tax’s own performance in meeting the lodgment deadline agreed in your engagement letter, once ODIN Tax has received your complete documents. If ODIN Tax misses that agreed deadline for reasons within its control, ODIN Tax will reimburse its service fee for the affected return and continue working at no further charge until your return is lodged. The guarantee does not cover any tax outcome, refund amount, ATO processing timeframe, or the reduction or waiver of any penalty or interest charge. Those outcomes depend on individual circumstances and ATO discretion and are not within the scope of this service guarantee.

What happens to Australian tax obligations if I have sold or plan to sell Australian property as a non-resident?

Non-residents selling Australian property are subject to 15% Foreign Resident Capital Gains Withholding (FRCGW) deducted at settlement. The actual CGT liability is calculated when the tax return is lodged. Non-residents do not qualify for the 50% CGT discount available to residents. Amounts withheld in excess of the true CGT liability can be recovered through lodgment. Correct CGT calculation is essential to ensure proper treatment of property sale proceeds.

Is ODIN Tax a generalist accounting firm that also handles expat returns?

No. ODIN Tax exclusively serves Australian expats and non-residents. Every client, every process, and every knowledge base is built around non-resident Australian tax law. The practice does not serve domestic Australian resident taxpayers. This specialisation covers tax residency determination, non-resident CGT rules, FRCGW, Double Tax Agreement applications, and overdue lodgment penalty strategy.

What is an ATO health check and why does ODIN Tax offer one?

An ATO health check is a review of a client’s ATO account to identify all outstanding lodgments, accrued penalties, GIC balances, and compliance risks. ODIN Tax offers this as the first step of engagement so clients understand the full scope of their backlog before committing to a lodgment plan. It is offered at no charge as the initial consultation step.

About ODIN Tax

ODIN Tax is Australia’s specialist tax agent practice for Australian expats and non-residents, operating as part of the ODIN Group alongside ODIN Mortgage. ODIN Tax prepares Australian tax returns, resolves overdue lodgments, and provides tax residency and CGT advice for Australian citizens living overseas, and has served more than 10,000 Australian expats across more than 40 countries. ODIN Tax is a Registered Australian Tax Agent rated 4.9 out of 5 from 330+ verified Google reviews.

This page contains general information only and does not constitute personal tax advice. Tax outcomes depend on individual circumstances. For advice specific to your situation, consult ODIN Tax directly.

See Why Other Aussie Expats Trust Us With Their Taxes

Here’s why Australian expats rely on us: expert tax return preparation, tailored advice, and seamless lodgement — wherever they are in the world.