Best Tax Apps in Australia (2026)

The best tax apps in Australia right now are myTax (free through myGov), Etax (from $0 for basic returns, around $149 for complex ones), and Hnry (2.5% of self-employed income, fully automated). Which one suits you depends almost entirely on whether you’re a salaried employee, a freelancer, or a small business owner — those three situations have completely different requirements come 30 June.

General information only. This article does not constitute financial advice. Consider your own circumstances before making financial decisions.

myTax: The Free Option That’s Better Than You Think

Most Australians skip past myTax because it sounds like a government portal — and it is, but it’s genuinely capable. Accessed through your myGov account at my.gov.au, myTax pre-fills data from employers, banks, health funds, and government agencies automatically. For a standard salaried employee with straightforward deductions, the entire return takes under 20 minutes.

The catch: myTax doesn’t guide you through what you can actually claim. If you’re putting in home office expenses, vehicle use, or work tools, you need to know your figures before you start. The ATO’s myDeductions feature inside the ATO app fills that gap — snap receipts throughout the year and they auto-import at tax time. That combination is hard to beat for zero cost.

Etax: Best for Employees Who Want Guidance

Etax is an Australian-built platform that has been lodging returns since 1998. The free tier covers income-only returns, and paid plans start at $49, climbing to roughly $149 for investment properties or sole trader schedules.

What Etax does well is explaining each section in plain English as you go. If you’re unsure whether your laptop is deductible or which depreciation method applies to tools you bought mid-year, Etax walks you through it. A qualified accountant also reviews every return before lodgement — that’s included in the price, which makes the $99–$149 range reasonable when your situation has any real complexity.

Hnry: The Standout Choice for Freelancers

If you earn self-employed income — contractor, creative, consultant, or tradie on an ABN — Hnry is the most practical solution available in Australia right now. It charges 2.5% of self-employed income, capped at $1,500 per year, and handles PAYG withholding, GST, income tax, and your annual return automatically.

The model is simple: money comes in, Hnry calculates and sets aside the correct amounts in real time, you receive the rest. No quarterly BAS stress, no year-end tax bill surprises, no need to estimate your effective tax rate. For freelancers earning $60,000–$150,000 annually, the fee often works out cheaper than a single accountant visit — and it covers the whole year.

QuickBooks Self-Employed: For Those Who Want Full Visibility

At around $15 per month (AUD), QuickBooks Self-Employed tracks income and expenses, separates personal from business transactions, and estimates quarterly tax obligations. It connects to your bank accounts directly, which keeps records clean without manual data entry.

The key difference from Hnry: QuickBooks estimates and tracks, but doesn’t actually pay your tax for you. You still lodge via myTax or a registered agent. That said, the built-in mileage tracker and invoice tools make it worth considering for sole traders who want to manage client billing and bookkeeping in one place.

Free vs Paid: What Does Your Situation Actually Need?

Not every Australian needs to pay anything for tax software. Here’s a straightforward breakdown:

• Salaried employee, simple deductions → myTax + ATO app, completely free
• Salaried employee with shares or an investment property → Etax ($99–$149) or H&R Block online ($89 full return)
• Freelancer or contractor on ABN → Hnry (2.5% of income, capped at $1,500/year)
• Small business with staff or complex GST → Xero ($42/month) or MYOB ($27/month)

The most common mistake is using the wrong tier — either paying for a full accounting platform when myTax would do the job, or lodging a complicated sole trader return through myTax and leaving legitimate deductions on the table.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is myTax good enough for most Australians?

Yes. For anyone with a single employer, simple investment income, and straightforward deductions, myTax handles the job entirely for free. The ATO’s pre-fill system now pulls data from most banks, share registries, and institutions automatically, so manual work is minimal.

What’s the best tax app for freelancers in Australia?

Hnry is the standout for most Australian freelancers and contractors. It automates PAYG, GST, and annual lodgement for 2.5% of self-employed income, capped at $1,500 per year. For anyone earning above $60,000 from self-employment, that cap makes the value proposition even stronger.

Do I still need an accountant if I use a tax app?

Not always — it depends on your complexity. Rental properties with depreciation schedules, capital gains from share or crypto sales, trust distributions, and SMSF contributions are all situations where a registered tax agent earns their fee. For cleaner situations, a well-chosen app handles everything else.