Pre-fill is expanding for individuals in business at tax time 2026, making it easier to complete your tax returns accurately the first time. The key change is new pre-fill for Taxable payments annual report (TPAR) data.

If you’re a sole trader or contractor providing Taxable payment reporting system (TPRS) services, you need to include all related assessable income in your tax return. To make it easier, payments reported to ATO through TPAR by payers will now be pre-filled in your tax return.

Pre-fill securely imports verified data into your return, reduces manual entry and places business income into the correct labels with GST excluded. This reduces common mistakes, helping you get things right the first time. This applies across industries such as construction, courier and food delivery, and many gig economy platforms.

Lodge after 28 August to avoid errors

Most TPAR data will be available after 28 August each year, after payers lodge their reports. If you lodge in July or early August, this information may not appear yet. This could potentially lead to omissions, the need for amendments and repayment of refunds later. Lodging after 28 August gives you the best experience and reduces the risk of errors.

Review and confirm your pre-filled data

You’re still in control – you can check, update and confirm all pre-filled information before lodging. If you change a pre-filled amount, you’ll need to select a short reason code explaining why.

Other updates include pre-filled government grants reported through TPAR, your business details (such as ABN and business address), and opening stock from last year’s return.

Remember, pre-fill isn’t a complete picture. You still need to include all other income not reported through TPAR, such as cash jobs or private clients. Good record keeping remains essential, even with the expanded pre-fill.

For more information, see Taxable payments reporting and contractors.