{"id":17192,"date":"2026-05-06T18:17:54","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T12:47:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/befreeltd.com\/au\/?p=17192"},"modified":"2026-05-20T18:32:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T13:02:32","slug":"single-touch-payroll-finalisation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/befreeltd.com\/au\/resources\/blogs\/single-touch-payroll-finalisation\/","title":{"rendered":"STP Finalisation 2026: How to Complete Single Touch Payroll by 14 July"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The end of the financial year brings one payroll obligation that cannot be overlooked: Single Touch Payroll (STP) finalisation. For the 2025\u201326 financial year, most Australian employers must submit their STP finalisation declaration to the ATO by 14 July 2026.<\/p>

This is how employees receive their income statement, the document they need to lodge their personal tax return. A late or incorrect finalisation can delay tax returns for your entire workforce and attract ATO scrutiny. This guide walks through exactly what STP finalisation involves, how to complete it correctly, and what to do if something goes wrong.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What is STP Finalisation?\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Single Touch Payroll is the ATO’s real-time payroll reporting system. Each time an employer processes a pay run, payroll information, including gross wages, tax withheld, and superannuation, is reported directly to the ATO through STP-enabled software.<\/p>

STP finalisation is the year-end step that confirms all payroll data reported throughout the financial year is complete and accurate. Once finalisation is submitted, employees can view their income statement through myGov and use it to lodge their tax return. STP finalisation replaced the old payment summary (group certificate) process from 1 July 2019.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Key STP Finalisation Dates for 2026<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Milestone<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

Date<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Financial year ends<\/p><\/td>

30 June 2026<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

STP finalisation deadline, most employers<\/p><\/td>

14 July 2026<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

STP finalisation deadline, closely held payees<\/p><\/td>

30 September 2026<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

ATO marks income statements as ‘Tax ready’<\/p><\/td>

After the employer submits finalisation<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Employee tax return lodgement opens<\/p><\/td>

1 July 2026<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Individual tax return deadline (self-lodgers)<\/p><\/td>

31 October 2026<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Who Needs to Complete STP Finalisation?\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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All employers who report through STP must submit a finalisation declaration at the end of each financial year. This includes:<\/p>