Registered Tax Agent 2604 5805 · Chartered Accountants ANZ · Sydney CBD
02 9267 6533
Tsia Partners
TSIA PARTNERS
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Overdue tax returns in Sydney

Catching up on unlodged tax returns, oldest year first.

If one or more years of tax returns are outstanding, we work out exactly where you stand with the ATO, prepare the missing returns oldest first, and lodge them together with a written request to remit the penalties. Coming forward voluntarily through a registered tax agent is treated very differently from waiting for the ATO to chase you.

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What this covers

Individual returns for any number of prior years, including rentals, shares and foreign income
Sole trader, partnership, company and trust accounts and returns
Outstanding BAS and IAS lodgements
Rebuilding missing records from bank statements, ATO pre-fill data and third-party reports
Replacing ATO default assessments with returns based on your actual figures
Written requests to remit failure-to-lodge penalties and general interest charge
Negotiating a payment arrangement once the real liability is known

When people come to us

One missed year has turned into several
The ATO has written to you, or issued a default assessment
You need up-to-date returns for a loan, a business sale or a government application
Your previous accountant stopped responding, or you lost track of your records
You suspect you are owed refunds for the years you missed

People come to us with three, five, sometimes eight years outstanding. The cause usually isn’t tax: a business that got difficult, an illness, a bereavement, or one missed year that became easier to ignore than to face. None of that is unusual, and none of it makes the position harder to fix.

The first step is to see the whole picture. As your registered tax agent we can obtain your full ATO account history, which shows what is outstanding, what has been default-assessed and what penalties and interest have accrued. The position is often better than people expect, because refunds in some years offset debts in others.

We prepare the returns oldest first, so that losses and carried-forward amounts flow through correctly, and lodge them together with a written request to remit penalties. Once you are up to date, you move onto our tax agent lodgement program and receive the extended due dates that come with it.

What the fee includes

A review of your ATO lodgement history and account balance before we quote
Preparation and lodgement of each outstanding return in scope
Reconstruction of missing figures from bank statements and ATO data
A written request to remit failure-to-lodge penalties and interest
A summary of the total refund or liability before anything is lodged
Negotiation of an ATO payment arrangement if one is needed

What it does not include

Catch-up bookkeeping for business files, quoted separately where the books need rebuilding
ATO audits or disputes beyond the remission request
Legal representation, if the ATO has started court action

We can quote separately for anything excluded. We won’t do or bill work outside the agreed scope without your approval.

What we need from you

Sending these at the start is the best way to get the work done quickly. The checklists set them out in full.

Whatever records you have — incomplete is fine
Bank statements for the years outstanding, or access to download them
Any letters or notices you have received from the ATO
Employer or business details for each year, if you know them
Photo identification, so we can verify your identity before acting for you

How it works

01
Get the ATO picture
We add you to our client list and obtain your lodgement history, account balance and pre-fill data for every year.
02
A fixed fee per year
Once we can see what is outstanding, you get a fixed fee in writing before any work starts.
03
Lodged together
Returns are prepared oldest first and lodged together, with the remission request and, if needed, a payment plan.
Fees
Quoted per year outstanding · Individual returns from $200 a year

We quote a fixed fee in writing before work starts. Complex structures, catch-up years and multiple entities cost more, and we’ll tell you before we begin.

Common questions

How much does it cost to catch up on overdue tax returns?
Each outstanding year is priced like a normal return: individuals from $200 a year, with rentals or investments from $500, sole traders from $1,000, and companies and trusts from $3,000, all ex GST. Where records need rebuilding, we quote that in writing before starting.
Will the ATO fine me for lodging late?
Failure-to-lodge penalties can apply, and interest accrues on any tax owed. The ATO can remit both, and often does where someone comes forward voluntarily and brings everything up to date at once. We make the request in writing with the lodgements.
I don’t have my records. Can you still do it?
Usually, yes. Much of what is needed is already held by the ATO from employers, banks and share registries, and the rest can generally be rebuilt from bank statements.
Do I need to lodge if I earned very little?
Not always. If your income was below the tax-free threshold and no tax was withheld, you may only need to tell the ATO that a return is not necessary for that year. We check each year before preparing anything.
How long does it take?
We can usually see your ATO position within a day or two of being appointed. Most catch-ups are lodged within a few weeks of receiving your records, depending on how many years and entities are involved.
More at the full FAQ.

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TSIA PARTNERS
Suite 201, Level 2
309 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
general@tsiapartners.com.au
02 9267 6533
© 2026 Tsia Partners Pty Ltd · ABN 26 637 447 235 · Tax Agent 2604 5805 · ASIC Registered Agent 40908 · Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation
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