Records you'll need to complete your tax return

Before you sit down to do your tax, you'll need to gather all the right information. Here are some of the documents you'll need to complete your tax return.

​

• Payment summaries - Outlines the income you have received from your employer, super fund or government payment like Centrelink and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  
  

• Bank statements - Details any interest you have earned during the period and fees you have paid. Your bank may have summarised these for you, either online or at the bottom of your bank statement.
  
  

• Shares, unit trusts or managed funds statements - Information on dividends or distributions you've received. Dividends that you've elected to reinvest must be declared as income.
  
  

• Buy and sell investment statements - Needed to calculate capital gains and losses. If you bought or sold any shares you can access the details on your online broking account or you can get them from your investment adviser or stockbroker.
  
  

• Records from your rental property - If you use a property manager, you will probably get an annual tax statement that details income and expenses. Otherwise you will need to gather details of income received and expenses paid, including any capital gains or capital losses if you have sold the property.
  
  

• Foreign income - Details of foreign pensions or other foreign income.
  
  

• Private health insurance policy statement - Information needed to complete the private health insurance section of your tax return.