Home-Based tax return service

Prepare and lodge tax returns for individuals and sole traders from home, for a fixed fee per return.

Startup costA$1.5k to A$6k
Monthly revenueA$800 to A$4k
Time needed10+ h/week
First incomeMonths
  • A$1.5k-6k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
  • Licence or permit needed

Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.

What it is

A registered tax agent service working from a home office. You prepare and lodge individual and sole trader returns, claim deductions correctly and answer clients' questions, mostly online or by phone.

Your first three steps

  1. Check the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) website for the qualifications, experience and registration needed to charge for tax agent services
  2. Choose tax software, get professional indemnity insurance and set up a secure way to receive client documents
  3. Offer your service to friends, family and local community groups, then ask for reviews and referrals
Who pays

Employees with work-related deductions, rental property owners, sole traders, gig workers and people who want it done properly without the hassle.

How it makes money

A fixed fee per return, with extra for rental schedules, capital gains or sole trader income. Most work is concentrated around tax time, with repeat clients each year.

Skills that help
  • Strong knowledge of Australian tax rules for individuals
  • Accuracy and attention to detail
  • Clear, friendly communication
  • Comfortable with tax software and online document sharing
Watch out for
  • Charging a fee for tax return services generally requires TPB registration, so check this before taking any clients
  • Professional indemnity insurance and the TPB's ongoing education requirements
  • Client data security and privacy obligations
  • Check your council's rules on running a business from home
  • Income is very seasonal, so plan your cash flow outside tax time

Deep research report · Australia

Everything you need to start: home-based tax return service

Researched with live web search for Australia: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.

  • Startup costs with real prices
  • Licences, registration and rules
  • Pricing: what others charge
  • Break-even example
  • Finding your first customers
  • 30-day launch plan
  • Risks and how to reduce them
Ready in about 2 minutes · one-off payment, tax included

See a full sample report

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start a tax return business from home?

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,500 to $6,000, depending on your tax software, home office setup and insurance. Check ongoing education requirements and professional indemnity cover as part of your budget.

Do I need to be registered to prepare tax returns for a fee?

Charging a fee for tax return services generally requires TPB registration, so check this before taking any clients. Also check professional indemnity insurance, the TPB's ongoing education requirements, client data security and privacy obligations, and your council's home business rules.

How much can a home-based tax preparer earn?

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $800 to $4,000, depending on your client numbers and fees. Income is very seasonal, so plan your cash flow for the months outside tax time.

Other ways to run this business

Similar business services ideas

More ideas →