Annual returns for payroll tax

The annual payroll tax return breaks down the year's taxable wages, and is used to calculate your liability for the year.

You must lodge your annual return by 21 July each year for the previous financial year and pay any outstanding amounts.

If you have overpaid tax for the year, we will apply the amount to other outstanding liabilities you may have, then we will refund you any remaining amount.

Calculating your annual liability or refund

If you lodge your annual return online, your annual deductions and liability or refund will be automatically calculated. You will need to have ready your Queensland taxable and non-taxable wages and interstate wages; and group wages (if you are a designated group employer).

You can use the annual liability calculator to calculate your liability or refund before lodging the return.

Lodging an annual return

At the end of a financial year, you must:

• lodge an annual return for taxable wages paid or payable during the year
• compare your periodic return liabilities (excluding interest and penalties) with your annual liability amount
• pay any outstanding amounts (known as your annual liability) by the due date.

You cannot lodge your annual return until all your periodic returns for the financial year have been submitted. You include any taxable wages for the June period in the annual return (i.e. you do not need to lodge a separate periodic return for the period ending 30 June).

You still need to lodge an annual return if you have paid taxable wages after lodging a final return. However, you do not declare any wages already included in the final return.

If your status changes on 1 July, you do not need to lodge a final return – indicate your change of status on your annual return.

You must keep copies of your annual returns and all supporting documentation for at least 5 years.

These resources will help you lodge your annual return in QRO Online:

• annual return tutorial
• correcting errors tutorial
• annual return fact sheet
• webinar slides
• tips for lodging returns.

Also consider...

• See how to print from QRO Online.
• Find out how to pay your tax liability.
• Learn about exemptions for payroll tax.
• Discover how we handle complaints and objections.
• Report a change of business conditions to meet your payroll tax obligations.
• Search the events calendar to find a payroll tax webinar.
• Download the payroll tax user guide.
• See the due dates for payroll tax returns.