Business Tax Return Without Accounting Software
You do not need Xero or MYOB. Send us your Excel spreadsheet or bank statements and we do the rest. Keep working exactly the way you already do.
Do I need accounting software to lodge a business tax return in Australia?
No. The ATO does not require you to use accounting software such as Xero, MYOB, or QuickBooks to lodge a business tax return. As general information, you must keep accurate records that explain your transactions, generally for five years, and those records can be kept in any reasonable format, including an Excel or Google Sheets spreadsheet. Tax7 are ATO registered tax agents who can prepare and lodge your return directly from a spreadsheet or from your bank statements, so you never have to pay for a software subscription you do not want.
Do you need accounting software to lodge a tax return?
This is one of the most common worries small business owners, sole traders, and contractors have: they track everything in Excel or Google Sheets, or just have a pile of bank statements, and they are afraid an accountant will insist they buy Xero or MYOB before anything can happen. That fear is misplaced. Software is a convenience, not a legal requirement.
What the ATO cares about is that your records are accurate, complete, and kept for the required period (as a general rule, five years). It does not care whether those records live in a paid software package, a spreadsheet, or a folder of PDF bank statements. Because we are ATO registered tax agents, we can take your data in whatever form you already keep it and turn it into a compliant business or sole trader tax return.
So if you have no bookkeeping system in place and only bank statements, that is completely fine. And if you keep everything neat in a spreadsheet, that is fine too. You do not need to change anything before you talk to us.
Excel vs Accounting Software vs Bank Statements Only
All three approaches can produce a compliant tax return. Here is how they compare and what we need from you in each case.
| Consideration | Excel / Spreadsheet | Accounting Software (Xero, MYOB) | Bank Statements Only |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATO-acceptable? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Setup cost | Free (you likely already have it) | Account setup and data configuration | Free (nothing to set up) |
| Monthly cost | None | Ongoing subscription | None |
| What Tax7 needs from you | Your Excel or Google Sheets file (or CSV) | Access to your software file or an export | PDF or CSV bank statements for the period |
| Best for | Owners who like control and low transaction volume | Businesses that want live reporting and invoicing tools | Anyone with no system, or who is behind and needs a catch-up |
Software subscription costs vary by provider and plan. We never quote you for software you have not asked for.
How We Prepare Your Return Without Software
A simple, accountant-controlled process. You send what you already have, we handle the rest.
Send Your Records
Send your spreadsheet or bank statements as CSV, Excel, or PDF. Whatever you already have is fine, no reformatting needed.
We Categorise & Reconcile
Our accountants categorise every transaction and reconcile your income and expenses into a clean set of business records.
We Find Deductions
We review your data to identify every legitimate business deduction so you do not pay more tax than you need to.
We Prepare & Lodge
We prepare your business or sole trader return, walk you through it, and lodge it with the ATO once you are happy.
What We Can Work From
Send us any of the following. You do not need all of it, and you do not need accounting software at all.
- An Excel or Google Sheets spreadsheet
- CSV exports from your bank or spreadsheet
- Bank statement PDFs
- Invoices you have issued or received
- Photos or scans of receipts
- An existing Xero or MYOB file, if you happen to have one
You Do Not Have to Change Anything
This Is for You If...
- You track your business in Excel or Google Sheets
- You only have bank statements (no Xero, no MYOB)
- You do not want to pay for a software subscription
- You are a sole trader, contractor, or small business owner
- You are behind and need a catch-up from raw data
What We Will Never Do
- Force you onto Xero, MYOB, or any subscription software
- Refuse to start until you buy a software package
- Ask you to reformat or rebuild your spreadsheet first
- Fabricate or inflate figures to reduce tax
Transparent, Fixed-Fee Pricing
Free Assessment
We start with a free, no-obligation assessment of your records: how many periods you need, your transaction volume, and what you already have.
After the assessment, you receive a fixed-fee quote before we start any work, so you know exactly where you stand at no upfront cost.
Prefer a Fixed Product Price?
If you would rather see a set price up front, our sole trader and partnership and contractor tax pages list fixed fees for those returns.
Want to estimate your refund first? Try our free tax calculator.
All accounting fees are 100% tax deductible as a business expense.
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Tools, vehicle, and site deductions handled from your invoices and bank data.
Learn More →Business Tax Return Without Software FAQs
Still have questions?
Disclaimer: The information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Record-keeping requirements, including the general five-year retention period, are stated as general information; outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Tax7 is a registered tax agent. We recommend seeking professional advice tailored to your specific situation.
Last updated: July 2026
Ready to Lodge Without the Software Hassle?
Send us your spreadsheet or bank statements and we will take it from here. No Xero, no MYOB, no subscription required.
Speak with an ATO registered tax agent today or get in touch via our contact page.