Quick answer
Lodgement timing matters because banks generally assess business loans on lodged tax returns and financial statements, so a return that's still with the accountant can rule them out. Non-bank and online lenders can use BAS, accountant letters or bank statements instead, usually at a higher cost. Self-lodged sole trader, partnership and trust returns are generally due 31 October, but registered tax agents run lodgement programs with later dates.
Key points
- Banks usually want the latest year's return lodged; agents' later lodgement dates can leave a gap.
- Quarterly BAS is the backbone of low-doc lending — keep it current.
- Unlodged returns can hide unassessed tax, which worries every lender.
- If you plan to borrow, ask your accountant to prioritise your lodgement.
Most business owners think of tax time as a compliance chore. Lenders think of it as the moment your business becomes assessable — or doesn’t. The date your accountant lodges your return can quietly decide whether a bank will talk to you this year or whether you’ll be paying more with a lender that works around missing paperwork.
This guide explains how lodgement timing affects your borrowing options and how to plan around it, ideally before you need the money.
Why do lenders care so much about lodged returns?
A lodged tax return is independent evidence. It’s been prepared by you or your accountant under penalty of law and sent to the ATO, so lenders treat it as the most reliable picture of what the business earns. Financial statements prepared alongside it show profit, assets and liabilities.
Banks build their credit assessment around these documents. Without them, many banks simply can’t complete an assessment, regardless of how healthy the business looks in its bank account.
There’s a second worry. A return that hasn’t been lodged may hide tax that hasn’t been assessed yet. A lender that funds a business only to see a large tax bill arrive a few months later has a problem — so outstanding lodgements make every lender cautious, not just banks.
What are the key ATO dates for 2026?
| Obligation | Typical due date | Source of the date |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterly BAS — July to September | 28 October | ATO BAS due dates |
| Quarterly BAS — October to December | 28 February | ATO BAS due dates |
| Quarterly BAS — January to March | 28 April | ATO BAS due dates |
| Quarterly BAS — April to June | 28 July | ATO BAS due dates |
| Self-lodged return: sole trader, partnership, trust | 31 October | ATO income tax return |
| Self-lodged company return | Generally 28 February | ATO income tax return |
| Returns lodged by a registered tax agent | Per the agent’s lodgement program | ATO |
The ATO notes that eligible businesses lodging online or through a registered tax or BAS agent may get an extra two weeks for quarterly BAS (except for the October–December quarter, which already includes extra time). It also notes that most registered tax agents have a lodgement program that allows them to lodge after the usual 31 October deadline — but if you’re using an agent for the first time or changing agents, you should contact them before 31 October to be included.
Agent programs are a genuine benefit for busy owners. The catch is that a return lodged under a later program date may not exist when a bank asks for it.
How does lodgement status change your lender options?
| Your lodgement position | Lender types usually open |
|---|---|
| Last two years lodged, BAS current | Major banks, regional banks, non-banks, everyone else |
| Latest year not yet lodged, BAS current | Non-banks (alternative evidence), online lenders, private lenders, asset financiers for smaller deals |
| Two or more years behind, BAS current | Non-bank low-doc, private, online |
| BAS also behind | Mostly property-secured private lending, and fewer options overall |
Our page on low-doc lending explains what non-bank lenders accept instead of returns.
Sitting in one of the lower rows and wondering what’s realistic? Ask a specialist — there’s no credit check to ask.
What happens when you apply in the months after 30 June?
This is the timing trap. Suppose it’s September and you apply to a bank. The financial year ended in June, so the bank wants that year’s return. But your agent’s program means it won’t be lodged until next year. The bank may accept the previous year plus management accounts — or it may wait.
Ways to handle it:
- Ask your accountant to prioritise your return if you know you’ll be borrowing. Many will bring a lodgement forward when there’s a reason.
- Prepare management accounts for the year just ended so a lender can see current figures.
- Get BAS lodged on time, since it shows turnover up to the most recent quarter.
- Choose a lender type that can work with what you have, and refinance later if a cheaper lender becomes available.
What if returns are behind because of a tax debt?
That’s common and understandable — owners sometimes delay lodging because they’re worried about the bill. Unfortunately it tends to make things worse. Lenders can’t size the problem, and unlodged obligations can compound. Since 1 July 2025, the ATO says general interest charge and shortfall interest charge are no longer tax-deductible, which adds to the cost of leaving a debt to run.
Lodging, even when you can’t pay immediately, gives you options: an ATO payment plan (businesses owing $200,000 or less can usually set one up online), or a lender who can refinance the debt with full knowledge of it. See who lends to clear an ATO debt.
Do sole traders face anything different?
Sole traders lodge an individual return with a business schedule, and lenders read it alongside personal finances. A return that minimises taxable income can also limit how much a bank will lend, which is a trade-off to discuss with your accountant if you plan to borrow. Our page on lending to sole traders covers the details.
What records should you have ready?
The ATO says most business records must be kept for five years. For a loan application, keep these easy to reach:
- the last two years’ tax returns and notices of assessment;
- financial statements for the same years;
- all BAS for the current and previous financial year;
- an ATO statement of account (from online services) and any payment plan;
- year-to-date management accounts from your accounting software;
- business bank statements for at least six to twelve months.
An illustrative example
Purely illustrative: a joinery business plans to buy new CNC equipment and refinance a vehicle loan in October. Its returns are lodged by an agent on a program date in the following year. The owner raises the plan with the accountant in July, who lodges the return in August and prepares current management accounts. In October the business applies to its bank with complete documents and is assessed on a full, current picture — rather than being told to come back next year or paying more with a lender that works around missing paperwork.
How do you build lodgement into your finance planning?
Treat lodgement as part of your funding plan, not a separate chore. If there’s any chance you’ll borrow in the next twelve months — equipment, premises, expansion, a refinance — tell your accountant now. Our guide to lining up finance before you need it puts lodgement on a 90-day checklist alongside the other steps that widen your options.
What should you ask your accountant if you plan to borrow?
- When will my latest return be lodged, and can it be brought forward?
- Can you prepare management accounts for the current year to date?
- Will my taxable income look very different from my business’s real cash flow, and why?
- Is there any tax still to be assessed that a lender should know about?
- Would you be willing to provide a letter confirming my income or trading if a lender asks?
An accountant who knows you’re borrowing can time lodgements and documents to help, rather than finding out when a lender calls them.
One more tip: if you plan to borrow in the second half of the calendar year, tell your accountant before 30 June. That gives them the chance to schedule your return early in the lodgement season rather than late, which can make the difference between a bank saying yes this year or next.
Need finance and the paperwork isn’t where you’d like?
You still have options; they’re just different ones. Send a 60-second enquiry and tell us where your returns and BAS are up to. A lending specialist will tell you which lender type will work with what you have now, and what changes once lodgements are current. Asking doesn’t involve a credit check, your details stay with us rather than going to a stack of lenders, and accurate answers about your paperwork are what let us match you properly the first time.
Frequently asked questions
When are business tax returns due?
The ATO says self-lodged returns for sole traders, partnerships and trusts are generally due 31 October, and self-lodged company returns generally 28 February (or 31 October if prior returns are outstanding). Registered tax agents have lodgement programs that can allow later dates for their clients.
Can I get a business loan before my tax return is lodged?
Yes, but usually not from a major bank. Non-bank, private and online lenders can assess using BAS, an accountant's declaration or bank statements, typically with more emphasis on security.
Which year's return will the bank want?
Usually the most recent completed financial year, plus the one before. If you apply in the months after 30 June, a bank may ask for the year just ended even if your agent's lodgement date is months away.
Does the ATO care that I'm applying for a loan?
No, but lenders care about your ATO position. They'll often ask for an ATO statement of account and portal print-outs showing lodgements and any debt.
How long should I keep business records?
The ATO says most business records must be kept for five years from when they were prepared or obtained, or when the transactions were completed, whichever is later.