Tax time. That odd combination of numbers, receipts, mild regret, and the faint hope that the IRS or ATO owes us something—rather than the other way around. While many treat it as a once-a-year chore, the truth is that a well-prepared return can quietly put money back where it belongs: in your pocket. Or, at least, into your offset account.
There’s no magic formula for maximizing your return, but there are consistent habits, strategies, and decisions that make a noticeable difference. And whether you’re DIYing it or working with an individual tax return service, the principles remain the same: get organized, get specific, and don’t leave money on the table out of sheer inertia.
Here’s what we recommend if you’re aiming to get the most out of your return in 2025—without being aggressive, vague, or audited.
1. Stop Relying on Guesswork and Start Using Actual Numbers
Rough estimates don’t impress the tax authorities. They also don’t help your return. One of the easiest ways to lose legitimate deductions is by guessing—what you spent, how many hours you worked from home, or what percentage of your mobile usage was business-related.
An individual tax return service will often begin by asking: where’s your evidence? Not to be dramatic, but if you don’t have a record, the deduction doesn’t really exist. So get methodical. Use a spreadsheet, an app, or even a folder of well-labelled screenshots. Just make it consistent, and make it legible.
2. Know the Difference Between a Deduction and a Fantasy
There’s a strange confidence that takes hold in tax season. People start trying to deduct houseplants, holidays, and the sneakers they wore while walking to work.
Some deductions seem obvious—tools for carpenters, laptops for designers, continuing education for professionals. Others require nuance. Home office expenses, for example, must relate directly to income-producing work. And yes, that Netflix subscription might be essential for a media researcher, but not for your average insurance analyst.
A good rule of thumb? If you’d struggle to explain it with a straight face to someone at the IRS or ATO, it probably doesn’t belong on the return.
3. Don’t Miss Out on Work-Related Deductions Just Because They’re Small
It’s easy to overlook minor expenses—parking for a work-related seminar, trade subscriptions, office stationery, laundry for a uniform with a logo. But these add up. And provided they’re incurred as part of earning your income, they’re worth claiming.
This is where digital record-keeping becomes helpful. Once a week, scan receipts or forward invoices to a central folder. By the end of the year, you’ve already done the legwork, and your deductions are itemized, organized, and ready.
As we often remind clients: the tax office isn’t impressed by memory. They like documentation.
4. Prepay Where Possible, Defer Where Sensible
Tax planning doesn’t have to be grand. Sometimes it’s about timing.
Prepaying allowable expenses—subscriptions, memberships, insurances—can bring forward deductions into the current financial year. On the other hand, deferring income (where legitimate) can reduce your assessable income.
Of course, this only works if your income varies year to year or if you’re operating as a sole trader or contractor. But the logic is simple: shift the numbers slightly to land in a more favorable bracket. It’s legal, it’s strategic, and it often gets overlooked.
5. Don’t Do It All Yourself (Unless You Know What You’re Doing)
We’re not saying you can’t do your own return. You absolutely can. But much like tiling a bathroom or attempting sourdough, just because you can doesn’t always mean you should.
An experienced individual tax return service can often identify deductions, offsets, and adjustments that most people miss. They’ll also keep you within the rules—firmly, but kindly. And they can defend your return if the tax authorities ask questions.
DIY can work for straightforward returns, but if you’ve had multiple jobs, side income, crypto, investment property deductions, or anything that requires nuance, get help. Not just to save money—but to avoid giving away too much of it.
Tax returns aren’t meant to be dramatic. They’re meant to be accurate. And if approached methodically—with a clear plan, careful records, and a little bit of professional support—they can be a useful financial tool rather than just another yearly task to tick off with a sigh.
