SOLE TRADER TAX RETURN ADELAIDE
Registered Tax Agents preparing and lodging sole trader tax returns across South Australia. We claim every deduction you are entitled to, handle your ABN and GST, and lodge through the agent channel so you get the extended deadline. From $120.
YOUR BUSINESS INCOME GOES ON YOUR PERSONAL RETURN
As a sole trader, you do not lodge a separate business tax return. Your business income and expenses go on your individual tax return, in the business and professional items schedule, and you pay tax at the same marginal rates as any other individual. There is no separate business tax rate and no separate business return. This is the single biggest difference between operating as a sole trader and operating through a company.
It sounds simple, and for a sole trader with one income stream and a handful of expenses, it usually is. Where it gets complicated: working out which expenses are genuinely deductible, apportioning costs that are part business and part private (your car, your phone, your home office), handling GST once you cross the $75,000 turnover threshold, and managing PAYG instalments once the ATO puts you into the instalment system.
We prepare and lodge sole trader returns for Adelaide businesses as Registered Tax Agents. That means every deduction you are entitled to is claimed and documented, your return is reviewed before it goes to the ATO rather than after, and it is lodged through the tax agent channel, which extends your deadline well past the 31 October date that applies if you lodge yourself.
Sole trader tax returns start from $120. We quote before any work starts, and the fee itself is deductible on next year's return.
WHAT OUR SOLE TRADER TAX SERVICE COVERS
Every sole trader is different. A part-time consultant with one client and a laptop is a different return from a full-time tradie with a ute, tools, a home workshop, and quarterly BAS. What does not change is the standard: every deduction claimed and documented, GST and PAYG handled correctly, and the return lodged on time through the agent channel.
Tax Return Preparation and Lodgement
Full preparation of your individual return, including the business and professional items schedule. We reconcile your income, work through your deductions, apply any offsets you are entitled to, and lodge electronically as your Registered Tax Agent.
Deduction Review
We work through every expense category that applies to your business, including the ones sole traders routinely miss: home office running costs, the business portion of your car and phone, depreciation on tools and equipment, and the cost of last year's tax return.
ABN and GST Registration
ABN registration if you do not have one, and GST registration once your turnover reaches the $75,000 threshold. We advise on whether registering for GST voluntarily below the threshold is worthwhile in your situation.
BAS and PAYG Instalments
Quarterly BAS preparation and lodgement for GST-registered sole traders. We reconcile your PAYG instalments against your actual tax position and vary them where you are paying too much, so you are not lending the ATO money interest-free.
Late and Multiple-Year Returns
Behind on your returns? We bring overdue sole trader returns up to date, deal with the ATO on any failure-to-lodge penalties, and get you back into the system. Being behind is common and fixable, and we do not judge.
Structure Advice
As your income grows, staying a sole trader may cost you more tax than restructuring to a company or trust. We model the numbers and tell you at what income level a change makes sense, rather than waiting for you to ask.
What Our Clients Say (Real Adelaide Stories)
Daniel Hughes
Adelaide, Australia
I received a Director Penalty Notice and had no idea what to do. The Kalculators took over within 24 hours — explained everything clearly, dealt directly with the ATO, and gave me my first decent night of sleep in months. I can't recommend them highly enough.
HOW MUCH TAX DOES A SOLE TRADER PAY?
A sole trader pays tax at the individual income tax rates on their net business profit, which is business income minus deductible business expenses. For the 2025-26 financial year, Australian residents pay no tax on the first $18,200, then 16 percent up to $45,000, 30 percent up to $135,000, 37 percent up to $190,000, and 45 percent above that. A 2 percent Medicare levy applies on top. There is no separate sole trader tax rate.
A worked example: a sole trader with $90,000 in business income and $20,000 in deductible expenses has a net profit of $70,000. Tax on $70,000 for 2025-26 is $11,788, plus a Medicare levy of $1,400, for a total of $13,188 before any offsets. That is an effective rate of about 18.8 percent on the net profit, even though the top dollar was taxed at 30 percent.
From 1 July 2026, the 16 percent bracket drops to 15 percent, and from 1 July 2027 it drops again to 14 percent. Both changes are already law. For a sole trader earning above $45,000, that is a saving of about $268 in the 2026-27 year and about $536 a year from 2027-28.
The number that trips sole traders up is not the rate. It is the fact that tax is not withheld from your income the way it is for an employee. You receive the full amount, spend it, and then the tax bill arrives after you lodge. Setting aside 25 to 30 percent of every payment into a separate account is the habit that keeps sole traders out of trouble, and the ATO's PAYG instalment system exists to formalise exactly that.
We do not just lodge the return. We tell you what to set aside, when the instalments fall due, and how to plan for the bill so it is never a surprise.
SOLE TRADER OR COMPANY? WHEN TO CHANGE
Starting as a sole trader is the right call for most new Adelaide businesses. It is cheap, simple, and gets you trading fast. But as your profit grows, there is a point where the flat 25 percent company tax rate beats the individual rates you pay as a sole trader, and staying a sole trader starts costing you real money.
Four signs it is time to look at a company structure:
- Your net profit is consistently above $135,000, where you start paying 37 percent as an individual versus 25 percent in a company.
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- You want to retain profit in the business to reinvest rather than drawing it all out and being taxed on it personally.
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- You are taking on liability risk that could reach your personal assets, and want the limited liability a company provides.
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- You are bringing in a business partner or investor, where a company or trust structure is cleaner than a sole trader arrangement.
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| Factor | Sole Trader | Company |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | Individual rates, 16% to 45% | Flat 25% (base rate entity) |
| Setup cost | From $150 (ABN) | From $1,299 (ASIC fee included) |
| Annual compliance | Individual returns only | Company return + ASIC review |
| Personal liability | Unlimited (your assets at irsk) | Limited to company assets |
| Retaining profit | Taxed each year personally | Can retain at 25% |
| Tax-free threshold | Yes, first $18,200 | No |
The threshold is not fixed. A company saves tax only on profit you leave in the business. If you draw everything out to live on, you are taxed personally on it anyway, and the company structure just adds cost. That is why the right answer depends on your drawings, not only your profit. We model both before recommending a change.
REGISTERED TAX AGENTS ADELAIDE SOLE TRADERS TRUST
A sole trader return is not just a form. Claim a deduction you cannot substantiate, and you carry the risk in an ATO review. Miss a deduction you were entitled to, and you overpay. Lodge late without an agent and you cop the failure-to-lodge penalty. The Kalculators operates under full Registered Tax Agent accreditation with the Tax Practitioners Board, so your return is prepared, reviewed and lodged by someone with the authority to represent you to the ATO.
Founded by Kaleem Ulah, the firm has spent over 10 years working with South Australian sole traders, from first-year freelancers to established tradies with a decade of returns behind them. We process more than 20,000 returns a year with a team of 20+ registered tax consultants.
IPA Practice of the Year
(SA & NT – 2025)
Xero Gold Partner
AusMumpreneur Awards
– Business Excellence
Member of the Year 2019 –
Institute of Public Accountants
Member of the Year 2025 –
Institute of Public Accountants
Tax Practitioners Board
Registered Agent
2023 Governor’s Multicultural
Awards finalists
Australian Accounting
Awards (2019, 2020)
Australian Accounting
Awards (2021, 2022)
0k+
Returns Annually0+
Tax Consultants$0M+
In Claimed Deductions0+
Office Locations
HOW WE LODGE YOUR SOLE TRADER RETURN
Most sole trader returns are lodged within 10 business days of receiving your records. Here is the process, from the first appointment to the refund being credited to your account.
Book and gather records
Book online or call the office. We send you a sole trader checklist so you know exactly what to bring: income records, expense receipts, bank statements, your ABN, and last year's return if you have one. No need to have it all perfectly sorted; that is our job.
Book and gather records
Book online or call the office. We send you a sole trader checklist so you know exactly what to bring: income records, expense receipts, bank statements, your ABN, and last year's return if you have one. No need to have it all perfectly sorted; that is our job.
Income and expense review
We reconcile your business income and work through every expense category that applies to you. This is where deductions get found. Sole traders routinely miss home office costs, the business portion of their car and phone, depreciation on equipment, and the cost of last year's tax return.
Income and expense review
We reconcile your business income and work through every expense category that applies to you. This is where deductions get found. Sole traders routinely miss home office costs, the business portion of their car and phone, depreciation on equipment, and the cost of last year's tax return.
Deduction and offset check
We apply every deduction you can substantiate and every offset you are entitled to, including the Low Income Tax Offset where it applies. We also check your GST position and PAYG instalments so nothing is missed and nothing is double-counted.
Deduction and offset check
We apply every deduction you can substantiate and every offset you are entitled to, including the Low Income Tax Offset where it applies. We also check your GST position and PAYG instalments so nothing is missed and nothing is double-counted.
Draft and review with you
We prepare the return and walk you through it before anything is lodged. You see the income, the deductions, the tax position and the refund or bill, and you understand how each number was reached. Questions get answered before lodgement, not after.
Draft and review with you
We prepare the return and walk you through it before anything is lodged. You see the income, the deductions, the tax position and the refund or bill, and you understand how each number was reached. Questions get answered before lodgement, not after.
Lodgement through the agent channel
We lodge electronically as your Registered Tax Agent. Because you are lodging through an agent, your deadline extends well past the 31 October date that applies to self-lodgers, in many cases to as late as May the following year.
Lodgement through the agent channel
We lodge electronically as your Registered Tax Agent. Because you are lodging through an agent, your deadline extends well past the 31 October date that applies to self-lodgers, in many cases to as late as May the following year.
Refund and next-year planning
The ATO usually processes agent-lodged returns within two weeks. Once your assessment issues, we tell you what to set aside for next year, when any PAYG instalments fall due, and whether anything in your situation is worth planning for before 30 June.
Refund and next-year planning
The ATO usually processes agent-lodged returns within two weeks. Once your assessment issues, we tell you what to set aside for next year, when any PAYG instalments fall due, and whether anything in your situation is worth planning for before 30 June.
WHY ADELAIDE SOLE TRADERS LODGE THROUGH US
- Registered Tax Agent accreditation under the Tax Practitioners Board standards, so your return is lodged through the agent channel with the extended deadline
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- Sole trader returns from $120, quoted in writing before any work starts, with the fee deductible next year
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- Every deduction reviewed and documented, including the ones sole traders routinely miss (home office, car, phone, depreciation, prior-year fee)
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- ABN and GST registration handled, with advice on whether voluntary GST registration below the threshold is worth it for you
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- Quarterly BAS and PAYG instalment management, with instalments varied where you are paying too much
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- Current 2025-26 tax rates applied, not last year's figures, with planning for the 2026-27 rate cut
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- Overdue and multiple-year returns brought up to date, including dealing with the ATO on failure-to-lodge penalties
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- Structure advice as you grow, so you know at what income level a company or trust would save you tax
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- 10+ years advising South Australian sole traders across every trade and profession
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- 3 physical offices across Adelaide at Salisbury, Blair Athol, and Morphett Vale
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- Online service for Murray Bridge, Woodville, Melrose Park, Port Augusta, Prospect, and Brighton
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- Xero Gold Partner bookkeeping setup, so next year's return is faster and captures more deductions
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SOLE TRADER RETURNS FOR EVERY TRADE AND PROFESSION
The deductions available to a sole trader depend heavily on what you do. A tradie claims tools and a ute. A consultant claims a home office and software. A rideshare driver claims a percentage of their car's logbook. We prepare sole trader returns across South Australia's main sole trader occupations, so the person doing your return already knows your deductions.
Tradies and Contractors
Sole trader returns for electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and subcontractors. Tools and equipment depreciation, the instant asset write-off, ute and vehicle costs, protective clothing, and travel between sites all handled correctly.
Consultants and Freelancers
Returns for IT contractors, designers, writers, and business consultants. Home office running costs, software subscriptions, professional development, and the personal services income rules that catch many one-client contractors.
Rideshare and Delivery
Uber, DiDi, Amazon Flex and food delivery drivers. Logbook-based car claims, the mandatory GST registration that applies to rideshare from the first dollar, fuel, and phone costs are apportioned correctly.
Health and Beauty
Sole trader returns for hairdressers, massage therapists, personal trainers, and allied health practitioners. Product and equipment costs, chair or room rent, professional insurance, and registration fees.
Creatives and Online Sellers
Returns for artists, photographers, content creators, and Etsy or eBay sellers. Equipment depreciation, the hobby-versus-business distinction, platform fees, and stock and materials costs.
Professional Services
Bookkeepers, real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and other commission-based sole traders. Income timing, referral costs, licensing and registration fees, and the deductions specific to commission income.
WHAT CAN A SOLE TRADER CLAIM?
A sole trader can claim any expense directly related to earning business income, as long as it is not private in nature and you have a record to substantiate it. The most commonly claimed sole trader deductions are:
- Home office running costs, including a portion of electricity, internet, and phone where you work from home
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- Motor vehicle expenses for business travel, using either the cents-per-kilometre method or a logbook
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- Tools, equipment, and technology, either written off immediately under the instant asset write-off or depreciated over time
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- Software subscriptions, professional memberships, and industry registration or licensing fees
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- Marketing and advertising, including your website, business cards, and online ads
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- Professional development, training, and courses that relate to your current business
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- Insurance, including public liability, professional indemnity, and income protection
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- Bank fees on your business account, merchant fees, and interest on business borrowings
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- The cost of preparing last year's tax return, which is deductible in the year you pay it
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The deductions sole traders most often get wrong are the ones with a private component: your car, your phone, and your home office. Each has to be apportioned between business and private use, and the ATO expects you to have a reasonable basis for the split. We work through the apportionment with you so the claim is defensible if it is ever reviewed.
WHAT DOES A SOLE TRADER TAX RETURN COST?
A sole trader tax return with The Kalculators starts at $120. That covers a straightforward return with one income stream and standard deductions. The fee rises with complexity: multiple income sources, GST and quarterly BAS, a logbook motor vehicle claim, depreciation schedules, or catching up multiple overdue years all add work and are quoted accordingly.
We quote before we start, and the fee is itself a deduction on next year's return. Compared with lodging yourself through myGov for free, the value of an agent is twofold: the deductions we find that you would miss usually exceed the fee, and the extended lodgement deadline plus the ATO representation are worth more than the cost the moment anything goes wrong.
Trusted by Thousands Across South Australia
Our Branch Locations
Salisbury Branch
salisbury@thekalculators.com.au
182 Salisbury Highway, Salisbury, SA 5108
Blair Athol Branch
info@thekalculators.com.au
315 Prospect Road, Blair Athol, SA 5084
Morphett Vale Branch
info@thekalculators.com.au
280 Main South Road, Morphett Vale, SA 5162
Murray Bridge
info@thekalculators.com.au
(08) 7480 2593
Woodville
info@thekalculators.com.au
(08) 7480 2593
Melrose Park
info@thekalculators.com.au
(08) 7480 2593
Port Augusta
info@thekalculators.com.au
(08) 7480 2593
Prospect
info@thekalculators.com.au
(08) 7480 2593
Brighton
info@thekalculators.com.au
(08) 7480 2593
MORE ON OUR ADELAIDE SMSF REGISTRATION SERVICES
LODGE YOUR SOLE TRADER RETURN. TALK TO OUR ADELAIDE TEAM.
Whether you are lodging your first sole trader return, catching up on a few overdue years, or wondering whether it is time to look at a company structure, that is worth a conversation. We have worked with South Australian sole traders for over 10 years, from 3 offices across Adelaide and online across regional SA.
Contact our team for a no-obligation quote before any work starts. Sole trader returns from $120.
