How Australian mortgage brokers can prepare for EOFY 2026
Introduction
The end of the financial year is one of those periods that sneaks up fast, and before you know it, June 30 is a week away, and there is a long list of things that should have been done in April. For mortgage brokers, EOFY 2026 carries more weight than usual.
New APRA lending limits came into effect in February, Payday Super is launching on 1 July, and ASIC is actively monitoring Best Interests Duty compliance for the first time since it became law in 2021.
The good news is that with the right preparation, this period is not just about ticking boxes. It is genuinely one of the best opportunities of the year to add value to your clients, strengthen your business, and set yourself up for a strong FY2027. Here is what you need to focus on.
Key takeaways
- Reconcile your books before EOFY so your accountant can focus on planning, not last-minute lodgement.
- Ask self-employed clients to lodge returns before 30 June to avoid borrowing delays.
- Use the $20,000 asset write-off now before the threshold drops after EOFY.
- Understand APRA DTI limits as they reduce borrowing capacity for many clients.
- Complete your CPD hours before 30 June to maintain accreditation.
- Use EOFY data to set clear targets and a strategy for the next financial year.
Key factors every mortgage broker should address before 30 June
Here are the key areas every broker should be working through right now, from getting your financials in order to having the right conversations with your clients before the clock runs out.
1. Get your books clean
This one sounds obvious, but it is where most brokers fall short.
Before any meaningful tax planning can happen, your books of accounts need to be accurate and fully reconciled. Reconcile all bank accounts, make sure every transaction is correctly coded for GST, review your profit and loss statement, and clear up any gaps between your CRM and accounting software.
The earlier you get this done, the more room your accountant has to actually help you rather than just scrambling to lodge on time.
On the client side, this matters just as much. Lenders assess serviceability based on verifiable, documented income, so any client whose financials are messy or whose tax returns are overdue is going to face a harder time getting approved after 1 July.
Nudging your self-employed and small business clients to get their 2024-25 returns lodged now is one of the most practical things you can do for them this time of year.
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2. The $20,000 instant asset write-off
If you have been putting off a legitimate business purchase, now is genuinely the time to act. The $20,000 instant asset write-off for small businesses with aggregated turnover under $10 million is available until 30 June 2026, and from 1 July it drops to just $1,000.
That is a significant reduction that catches many people off guard. The threshold applies per asset, so multiple purchases under $20,000 can each be claimed individually.
Think laptops, monitors, software subscriptions, phone upgrades, and office furniture. Assets need to be first used or installed, ready for use, before 30 June to qualify, so do not leave this to the last week.
This is also a great conversation to have with your small-business clients who may not realise this window is closing. A quick call flagging this kind of opportunity is exactly the sort of thing that builds long-term loyalty and drives word-of-mouth referrals.
3. Superannuation obligations
Super is the EOFY obligation that catches people out more than almost anything else. The rule is simple but widely misunderstood: contributions need to be received by the fund before 30 June, not just sent.
Payments made in the last week of June frequently do not clear in time, so the safe move is to process everything by mid-June at the latest.
Beyond this year's deadline, a bigger change is coming that brokers with staff and business-owner clients need to be across. Payday Super launches on 1 July 2026, meaning super will need to be paid within 7 business days of every single payday rather than quarterly.
The quarterly cash flow float that many businesses have relied on is going away, and for clients with tighter margins, this could be a meaningful shift. It is worth raising this in any business lending or refinancing conversation you are having right now.
Also worth noting, the ATO Small Business Superannuation Clearing House is closing, so any broker currently using it needs to transition to an alternative SuperStream-compliant solution before the deadline.
4. Trail book review
Most brokers either never look at their trail book or only glance at it when something obviously goes wrong.
EOFY is the perfect time for a proper audit, and what you find will often surprise you. Trail commissions reduce as loan balances reduce and stop entirely when a loan is discharged or refinanced to another lender, so without regular monitoring, it is easy to lose track of where your income is leaking. The financial stakes are real too.
Trail books in Australia are typically valued at between 2.75x and 3.75x annualised trail income, meaning run-off directly affects what your business is worth if you ever want to sell or bring on a partner.
Beyond the numbers, this audit is genuinely useful for your clients. Any client who has been sitting on the same product for three or more years, or whose life circumstances have changed significantly since their loan was written, deserves a proactive check-in. Getting to them before another broker does is both good service and good business.
5. Navigating the new APRA lending environment
The lending environment has shifted in 2026, and many clients are not fully aware of how these changes affect their borrowing power.
Since February, APRA has introduced limits on high debt-to-income (DTI) lending. Loans where total debt is six times or more than a borrower's income are now capped at 20% of new lending each quarter. This directly impacts investors and clients with multiple properties, often reducing how much they can borrow.
At the same time, some major lenders have tightened policies. For example, lending to trusts and companies has become more restricted, meaning clients using these structures may need alternative strategies.
For self-employed clients, timing is critical. A tax return that reduces taxable income may lower borrowing capacity, even if it improves tax outcomes.
What brokers should do now:
- Review borrowing capacity for investor clients before submitting applications
- Reassess deal structures for trust or company borrowers
- Speak with self-employed clients before they lodge tax returns
- Set realistic expectations early to avoid declined applications
Getting ahead of these changes allows you to position deals correctly and avoid last-minute surprises.
6. Compliance obligations
Compliance might not be the most exciting part of your business, but EOFY is when everything tends to pile up. This year, there is also more scrutiny than usual.
Start with your CPD hours. If you are an MFAA member, you need to complete 30 hours of Continuing Professional Development each year to maintain your accreditation. ASIC also requires at least 20 hours for credit representatives. If you are behind, now is the time to complete the remaining hours before 30 June.
The bigger focus this year is Best Interests Duty. ASIC is starting to look more closely at how brokers document their recommendations. It is not just about what loan you recommended, but clearly showing why it was the right choice for that specific client.
A simple way to check this is to review a few recent files. Ask yourself if someone else could understand your reasoning just by reading your notes. If the answer is no, it is worth improving your documentation now.
If you have employees, remember that STP finalisation is due by 14 July. Also take some time to review your AML and CTF records. Make sure client identification is up to date and stored correctly, as these records must be kept for at least 7 years.
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7. Tax Deductions to Review
There are more deductions available to brokers than most people claim, and EOFY is the time to make sure nothing is being missed. Aggregator and licensing fees, professional memberships, CRM and software subscriptions, professional indemnity insurance, CPD and training costs, accounting and legal fees, and home office expenses are all commonly claimable.
Home office can be claimed at 67 cents per hour under the fixed rate method or using actual costs, so it is worth checking which is more favourable for your situation.
One important change that affects both brokers and clients: from 1 July 2025, the ATO General Interest Charge on overdue tax debts is no longer tax deductible. With the GIC sitting at 11.17% compounding daily, carrying an unpaid ATO debt has become noticeably more expensive.
For your property investor clients, it is worth prompting them to review all their investment property deductions, including interest costs, management fees, and any repairs done this year. Clients who do not have a depreciation schedule on a newer investment property may be missing out on a meaningful deduction every single year.
8. Planning for the Year Ahead
The best brokers use EOFY not just as a clean-up exercise but as a genuine planning moment. Pull together your data from the year, trail run-off rate, settlement volumes, client acquisition costs, revenue mix, and use it to set real targets for FY2027 rather than just hoping things improve.
The market heading into the new financial year is active but more complex than it has been. DTI limits, tighter trust lending, Payday Super, and ongoing compliance scrutiny all mean that the brokers who thrive will be the ones who can think strategically alongside their clients, not just process applications.
For clients who are not quite ready to move yet, whether because their deposit needs more time or their income documentation is not strong enough, take the time now to give them a clear roadmap. Tell them exactly what needs to be in place and by when. That kind of practical, forward-looking advice is what turns a client into a long-term advocate for your business.
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Key dates you cannot afford to miss before EOFY 2026
Here are the key dates every mortgage broker should lock in now:
- 30 June 2026: End of financial year, all deductions, super payments, and asset write-offs must be finalised
- 14 July 2026: STP finalisation deadline for employers
- 28 July 2026: Q4 super guarantee due, pay by 30 June to claim in this year's deduction
- 1 July 2026: Payday Super commences, payroll systems must be ready
- 31 October 2026: Individual and sole trader tax return deadline for self-lodging
- 15 May 2027: Extended deadline via a registered tax agent
How Brokers' BackOffice can help you through EOFY 2026
For most brokers, June is a high-pressure race to manage settlements, compliance, and financials all at once. Brokers' BackOffice is your outsourced loan processing partner, taking the administrative weight off your desk so you can stay focused on your clients.
To provide a complete solution, we also offer specialised bookkeeping through our other fastest-growing brand, CleanSlate. While our processing team keeps your loan applications moving, CleanSlate's bookkeeping team ensures your internal accounts are reconciled and 100% tax-ready, preventing the 11th-hour scramble.
Here is exactly how we help you navigate the June rush:
- Protect your pipeline: We handle lodgements and lender follow-ups so your momentum doesn't stall while you are busy with year-end planning.
- Secure 30 June settlements: Speed and accuracy in processing are the difference between a deal landing this financial year or slipping into the next.
- Audit-ready compliance: We manage document reviews and tracking to ensure every file is complete and compliant before the new financial year begins.
- Operational freedom: By outsourcing back-office tasks, you gain the capacity for proactive client outreach, trial book reviews, and strategic business planning.
- Flexible support when you need it: As workload increases, access support from an expert team that understands Australian lending requirements and current credit policies, with no long-term contracts or fixed commitments.
Ready to scale your operations? Do not let the EOFY rush slow you down. Get in touch with our loan processing team to discuss how we can streamline your workflow and give you back your time.
Common EOFY 2026 Questions for Australian Mortgage Brokers
1. What is the tax deadline for brokers using an agent?
Brokers using a registered tax agent generally have until 15 May 2027 to lodge their returns, provided they are registered with the agent by October. While this provides more time, it is better to engage your accountant early in the new financial year. Early preparation allows for more effective tax planning while your 2026 data is fresh. It also ensures that any tax refunds are processed sooner, providing your brokerage with a useful cash flow boost.
2. Are aggregator and licensing fees deductible?
All fees paid to your aggregator, including software subscriptions, marketing levies, and commission splits, are standard deductible business expenses. You can also claim the annual fees for your Australian Credit Licence or Credit Representative status, along with AFCA membership costs. Reconcile these against your bank statements before 30 June to ensure every dollar spent on compliance and operations is captured. These costs are necessary for running your business and effectively reducing your overall taxable income.
3. What should I check regarding my professional memberships?
Before 30 June, verify that your memberships with AFCA and your industry body, such as the MFAA or FBAA, are active and paid. These memberships are not only tax-deductible but are also legal requirements for maintaining your credit license. Missing a renewal payment can lead to a compliance breach, so cross-reference your bank statements to ensure all professional dues have been processed and your certificates are up to date.
Final thoughts
EOFY is the right time for mortgage brokers to tidy their books, tighten compliance, and get ahead of the changes shaping the new financial year. A proactive review now can protect cash flow, strengthen client outcomes, and reduce last-minute pressure. If you want to spend less time on admin and more time writing loans, our outsourced back-office support can help. Book a call to streamline your process before 30 June.