First Company Tax Return
Registered a company this year, or lodging its first return? Fixed fees matched to what actually happened: traded, sat idle, or only spent on getting started.
- Never traded, or first year of trading, both priced below
- Tax losses established for later years
- Startup costs captured properly
- 100% online, Australia-wide
A first-year company is usually simple. Your fee should reflect that.
Most first years are short: registration, some setup costs, maybe a few months of trading. Traditional firms still charge full company rates for the smallest return the company will ever lodge.
Full company-return pricing regardless of how little happened, often with onboarding and advisory add-ons attached.
Fixed fee matched to the year you actually had. Prepared by an experienced accountant. 100% online.
Company been trading for years? See our standard company tax return service →
The right start for the company
Priced to the year you had
Never traded is $330 flat. Traded part of the year is $440. The price is on the page before we start, and it never arrives as a surprise.
No software needed yet
Most first-year companies have no accounting software, and that is fine. Bank transactions and a list of expenses, or a tidy spreadsheet, is a fine starting point.
Set up for what comes next
Startup expenditure reviewed and treated correctly, losses established where they exist, and the company goes into year two with a clean baseline.
Two tiers, matched to the first year
Never traded
Registered but idle: no sales, no wages
First year with activity
Traded, or startup costs worth capturing properly
- Company tax return
- Financial statements
- Startup expenditure reviewed
- Tax losses established
- Lodgement with the ATO
How it works
Tell us about the first year
When the company was registered, whether it traded, and what it spent. Plain answers are enough.
Onboard online
Complete a short form and share what records exist. About 10 minutes of your time.
We prepare the return
Your accountant prepares the return and financial statements, reviews any startup expenditure and establishes losses where they exist.
Review and lodge
Review the completed return, approve it, and we lodge with the ATO. First year done.
Common questions about first company returns
Does a new company have to lodge a tax return in its first year?
Generally yes, even for a partial first year with no trading. In limited cases a 'return not necessary' notification applies instead. We confirm which applies to your company and handle it.
When is the first company tax return due?
It depends on when the company was registered and whether you lodge through a tax agent, since agents have their own lodgment program dates. We confirm your exact due date at onboarding. Already past it? Our overdue tax returns service covers late first returns too.
The company only has startup costs and no revenue. Is it worth lodging properly?
Usually, yes. Startup and pre-launch expenditure handled correctly can establish tax losses the company may use in future years, and that happens in the return. We review the expenditure, treat it correctly and set the losses up, rather than lodging a bare nil return.
How much does a first company tax return cost?
$330 inc GST if the company never traded, $440 if it traded or has startup costs worth capturing. Both include financial statements and lodgement with the ATO.
We don't have accounting software yet. Is that a problem?
No, and most first-year companies don't. Bank transactions and a breakdown of expenses, or a tidy spreadsheet, is a fine starting point. If the company is about to start trading properly, we can help you pick software for year two.
Money moved between me and the company. Does that matter?
It is common in a first year: founders paying costs personally, reimbursements, money lent in to get started. Tell us what happened and we treat each item correctly in the return. Loans between the company and its directors have their own tax rules, so flag anything the company owes you or you owe it.
The company was registered but we never got started. Do we still lodge?
That is the classic dormant company case, and a flat $330 dormant return keeps it compliant. If the company has no future use, we can also talk through whether deregistering makes more sense.
Can you do my personal return as well?
Yes. Most first-year company owners have a personal return alongside, $150, and doing them together keeps everything consistent. See our personal tax return service.
Get the first return done right
Most clients are onboarded and lodged within two weeks.