In brief
A good tax appointment is not a treasure hunt. It is a review of a complete year and a starting point for better decisions in the next one.
Start with complete income records
Gather sales reports, invoices, platform statements and details of income that did not pass through your usual accounting software. Include cash, grants, government payments, insurance proceeds and income from a second platform rather than assuming it will appear automatically.
Match expenses with purpose and evidence
Bank feeds are useful, but a transaction description may not show what was purchased or why it related to the business. Keep invoices and receipts for equipment, subscriptions, travel, repairs, training and mixed-use costs. Note any private portion and how you calculated the business use.
Bring the records behind vehicle and home-working claims
For eligible 2025–26 claims using the cents-per-kilometre method, the ATO rate is 88 cents per business kilometre and the method has a 5,000-kilometre limit per car. If the logbook method may apply, bring the logbook, odometer readings and expense records. For working from home, the 2025–26 fixed rate is 70 cents per hour and requires a record of actual hours worked plus evidence of relevant costs.
Tell your accountant what changed
Mention vehicles or major assets bought or sold, new employees, new income streams or entities, finance arrangements, closed activities and changes in personal circumstances. These events can matter more than another folder of routine receipts.
Finish the bookkeeping—or flag the gaps early
Reconcile bank and loan accounts, identify personal transactions, review unpaid invoices and confirm payroll and superannuation information. If the books are behind, say so early. Catch-up work can be scoped; unexplained gaps discovered at the end cause delays.