A quarter of big Australian firms paid no income tax last year

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has released its annual corporate transparency report, revealing that more than one-quarter of large companies operating in Australia paid no income tax during the 2024-25 financial year. The report states the most common reason given was an accounting loss, meaning expenses exceeded revenue. Roughly 27% of entities covered by the report recorded zero tax, a figure similar to the previous year.

In total, 4,299 companies with total income of at least $100m paid a combined $87.5bn in tax during 2024-25, with the mining sector contributing the largest share. The findings echo earlier reporting on multinational companies, including Singtel-owned Optus and coal miner Adani, which have regularly paid no tax while citing infrastructure investment and operating costs.

ATO acting deputy commissioner Michelle Sams said the agency is paying increasing attention to digital businesses and supply chains, including data centres, to ensure they pay an appropriate share of tax. She said the ATO closely examines cases where no tax is paid in significant industries, including data centres, to confirm that tax paid reflects the actual level of economic activity occurring in Australia.

Other developments

Australia's three major telcos — Telstra, Optus and Vodafone — can now temporarily move customers onto a rival network in areas where coverage is knocked out by natural disasters such as cyclones, floods or bushfires, at no extra cost. Separately, a new early intervention program called Thriving Kids has begun for children under nine with mild developmental delays or autism, gradually replacing the National Disability Insurance Scheme for this group by 2028. Queensland remains the only state yet to join the program.