End of Financial Year Checklist (Sole Traders and Pty Ltd Companies)
End of financial year checklist for sole traders and Pty Ltd companies, covering everything to action before 30 June and in the weeks immediately after. Includes stocktake, superannuation contribution timing (must be received by the fund by 30 June to be deductible), instant asset write-off for eligible assets, prepaid expenses, bad debt write-off, income deferral or acceleration, and records archiving. The 30 June cut-off is absolute for most deductions.
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How to use it
Start at least four weeks before 30 June
Super contributions need to be received by the fund (not just sent) by 30 June. Clearing houses and electronic transfers take 3-7 business days. If you leave it to the last week, the contribution may not land in time and the deduction shifts to the next income year. The same applies to prepaid expenses and asset purchases that must be installed and ready for use.
Work through the checklist in order
The checklist is sequenced to catch time-sensitive items first (super, asset purchases) before moving to items that can be done in the final days (bad debt write-off, stocktake). Do not skip sections even if they seem irrelevant. The 'N/A' column exists for a reason.
Document everything with dates
For every EOFY action, record the date it was completed. The ATO may request evidence that an expense was incurred or a contribution was made before 30 June. Bank statements, super fund receipts, and supplier invoices with dates are your proof.
Complete post-30 June tasks within two weeks
STP finalisation, stocktake valuation write-up, and final payroll reconciliation should all be completed within two weeks of 30 June while the numbers are fresh. The STP finalisation declaration is due by 14 July.
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END OF FINANCIAL YEAR CHECKLIST - FY2025-26 ============================================ Business name: ______________________________ ABN: ______________________________ Structure: [ ] Sole trader [ ] Pty Ltd company [ ] Partnership [ ] Trust Prepared by: ______________________________ Date: ______________________________ PART 1: BEFORE 30 JUNE - TIME-SENSITIVE Superannuation: [ ] Super guarantee (SG) for Q4 (Apr-Jun) paid AND received by fund by 30 June if claiming deduction this year Amount: AUD ___________ Date received by fund: ___________ Note: Q4 SG is not technically due until 28 July, but paying early brings the deduction into the current year [ ] Personal concessional contributions made (sole traders / directors) Amount: AUD ___________ Date received by fund: ___________ Note: total concessional cap is AUD 30,000 for FY2025-26 (includes SG + salary sacrifice + personal deductible) [ ] Carry-forward unused concessional cap checked (available if total super balance under AUD 500,000 at prior 30 June) Unused cap from prior years: AUD ___________ [ ] Section 290-170 notice of intent to claim completed and sent to super fund (required for personal deductible contributions for sole traders) Asset purchases: [ ] Assets to be purchased before 30 June identified Asset: ______________________ Cost: AUD ___________ Asset: ______________________ Cost: AUD ___________ [ ] Instant asset write-off eligibility confirmed: [ ] Aggregated turnover under AUD 10 million [ ] Each asset costs less than AUD 20,000 (excl. GST if registered) [ ] Asset installed and ready for use by 30 June Note: threshold subject to legislative extension - verify current law [ ] Assets over the threshold added to the general small business pool (15% depreciation in the first year, 30% thereafter) Prepaid expenses: [ ] Eligible prepaid expenses paid before 30 June (12-month prepayment rule: deductible in full if the service period is 12 months or less and ends before 30 June of the next income year) Examples: rent, insurance, subscriptions, professional memberships Item: ______________________ Amount: AUD ___________ Item: ______________________ Amount: AUD ___________ Bad debts: [ ] Bad debts formally written off before 30 June Debtor: ______________________ Amount: AUD ___________ Evidence of write-off: [ ] Board resolution (Pty Ltd) [ ] Written note in records (sole trader) Note: must be genuinely bad (evidence of debt recovery attempts) Note: if GST was charged on the original invoice, you may claim a GST adjustment on the next BAS PART 2: INCOME AND DEDUCTION TIMING [ ] Defer income where possible: [ ] Delay issuing invoices until after 30 June (accruals basis) [ ] Delay receipt of payment until after 30 June (cash basis) Note: do not delay if it breaches contract terms or is artificial [ ] Bring forward deductible expenses: [ ] Pay supplier invoices before 30 June [ ] Bring forward planned repairs and maintenance [ ] Prepay eligible expenses (12-month rule above) [ ] Review work in progress (Pty Ltd companies) WIP at 30 June: AUD ___________ [ ] Trading stock: [ ] Physical stocktake completed on or near 30 June [ ] Stock valued at cost, market selling value, or replacement value (whichever is lowest, if you want to minimise taxable income) [ ] Obsolete or damaged stock written down to nil or scrap value Stock value at 30 June: AUD ___________ PART 3: PAYROLL AND EMPLOYEE OBLIGATIONS [ ] All wages paid up to 30 June recorded [ ] STP reports up to date for all pay runs to 30 June [ ] STP finalisation declaration lodged (due by 14 July) [ ] Reportable fringe benefits amounts calculated and included in STP finalisation (if total taxable value exceeds AUD 2,000 per employee) [ ] Closely held employees (Pty Ltd) - ensure all director drawings treated correctly (salary, dividend, or loan per Division 7A) [ ] Division 7A loan agreements current and minimum repayments made before 30 June (Pty Ltd companies with shareholder/associate loans) Loan balance: AUD ___________ Minimum repayment: AUD ___________ PART 4: RECONCILIATION AND REVIEW [ ] All bank accounts reconciled to 30 June [ ] Credit card statements reconciled to 30 June [ ] Loan balances confirmed with lenders at 30 June [ ] Motor vehicle logbook business-use percentage reviewed (new logbook needed if current one is over 5 years old or business use has changed significantly) [ ] Home office expenses method confirmed for FY2025-26: [ ] Fixed rate (70 cents per hour from 1 July 2024) [ ] Actual cost method (apportioned by floor area and hours) [ ] Private use adjustments reviewed for shared assets (phone, internet, vehicle, computer) [ ] All BAS lodged for the year (Q1, Q2, Q3 - Q4 is due 28 July) PART 5: AFTER 30 JUNE [ ] Q4 BAS prepared and lodged by 28 July 2026 [ ] STP finalisation declaration lodged by 14 July 2026 [ ] Income tax return preparation commenced Due date: [ ] 31 October 2026 (self-lodgers) [ ] Tax agent managed lodgement program date: ___________ [ ] Prior year losses reviewed and carried forward if applicable [ ] Estimated tax liability calculated for cash flow planning Estimated taxable income: AUD ___________ Estimated tax payable: AUD ___________ PART 6: RECORDS ARCHIVE [ ] Digital copies of all invoices, receipts, and bank statements saved [ ] Paper records filed and stored securely [ ] Accounting software backup taken as at 30 June [ ] Records retention: minimum 5 years from the date you lodge the return for the relevant income year (section 382-5, Schedule 1, TAA 1953) Notes: - The 30 June cut-off is absolute. A cheque posted on 29 June but cleared on 2 July is a next-year expense on accruals basis but a current-year expense on cash basis (when the bank clears it is what counts for cash basis). - Super contributions: the fund must RECEIVE the money by 30 June. Allow 3-7 business days for clearing house processing. The ATO Small Business Superannuation Clearing House can take up to 14 business days. - Instant asset write-off: check current legislation at ato.gov.au for the applicable threshold. The AUD 20,000 threshold has been subject to annual legislative extensions. - SG rate for FY2025-26: 12% of ordinary time earnings.
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