Not summer - but tax time, which for many results in a payment windfall.

The process can be daunting and time consuming - for some people it can be straightforward, others may need to engage someone to assist.

ATO assistant commissioner Tim Loh said tax may seem daunting, but didn't need to be.

"The best advice for first-time lodgers is to be prepared - whether you choose to use the services of a registered tax agent or lodge your own return," he said.

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"As a general rule, you'll need to lodge if you've had tax taken out of your pay or earned over $18,200 during the financial year.

"You'll need to either lodge your own return or get on the books of a registered tax agent by 31 October. If you lodge yourself, myTax is the way to go. Most people with simple tax affairs can lodge in under half-an-hour, with most refunds received in less than 2 weeks."

The second tip from the ATO is to know what your tax file number is, for tax and superannuation purposes.

"It's yours for life, even if you change your name, job, or where you live. It will stay the same - so it's important to keep it secure," Mr Loh said.

"Not sure what your TFN is? You can find it on documents such as super statements or ATO letters. You can also find your TFN in ATO online services accessed through your myGov account."

If lodging a tax return online, it must be done through myGov.

"Once you've linked to the ATO, you can not only lodge your tax return online, but you can also track your refund, view your super balance, study loan amounts and income statements," Mr Loh said.

One of the biggest suggestions by the ATO is to take time before lodging your tax return, to allow time for all fields to be secured.

Whether a person lodges their return themselves or through an agent, by late July information from employers, banks, health funds and more will be automatically added online.

If a return is lodged earlier, Mr Loh urged people to take extra care to add all their income.

"Another mistake we see that can set you back is forgetting to keep receipts for any deductions you want to claim."

According to Mr Loh, the most common deductions are expenses directly related to earning an income.

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