how can I process in ATO app, Tax withheld = $0 for cash paid jobs

 Author: JayATO(Community Support)Community Support

13 Apr 2026

Hi @JY777,

You declare your sole trader business income in the Business income or loss section of your individual tax return, not as a separate business return. As a sole trader, your business income is part of your personal tax return.

When you lodge through the ATO app or myTax, you'll need to personalise your return first. Select 'You were a sole trader or had business income or losses or partnership distributions', then choose 'Business/Sole trader income or loss', and then select 'Business income or loss'.

In the 'Net non-primary production' section (since you've mentioned non-primary production), you'll enter your business income at the 'Gross business income' field. This is where you include all cash payments you've received.

That’s likely why the app isn’t accepting 'tax withheld = $0'. For sole trader cash jobs, there is simply no withholding to report, so the field should be left blank or marked No tax withheld, depending on the prompt.

If the ATO app won’t let you continue without a withholding figure, the recommended option is to lodge using myTax via myGov on a computer, which provides better support for sole trader returns.

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