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nadyapreston(Initiate)Registered Tax Professional
16 Apr 2026

Hi all,


One of our former employees used to receive weekly reports of any of our clients' tax returns that have taken longer than usual to process. The subject is: "We need extra time to process your clients' tax returns"


I have ransacked Google inside and out and am still unable to find clarity. I even asked an ATO officer about this, and he also has no clue.


I did find an ATO webpage mentioning this report:


  • Below can be found under 'Weekly status reports'

https://www.ato.gov.au/tax-and-super-professionals/for-tax-professionals/prepare-and-lodge/tax-time/after-you-lodge#ato-Checkingthestatusofataxreturn


  • Below doesn't mention the report, but has a table which is included in the report found under 'In progress reason messages'

https://www.ato.gov.au/tax-and-super-professionals/digital-services/online-services-for-agents/online-services-for-agents-user-guide/lodgments/checking-the-progress-of-a-client-s-tax-return


If anyone has any idea what I'm talking about or the number to the communications division of ATO, please please please let me know. My team and I are desparate to know!

61 views
5 replies
61 views
5 replies

All replies

JayATO(Community Support)Community Support
17 Apr 2026

Hi @nadyapreston,


The weekly status report you're referring to is available through Online services for agents. This report shows clients' tax returns that require extra processing time, with subject line 'We need extra time to process your clients' tax returns'.


To access this report and view lodgment progress for your clients, you need to use Online services for agents. At Client summary, select Lodgment then Income tax then History tab. This shows the status and outcome of each return as we process it.


The status reasons displayed in your online services match the 'In progress reason messages' table you found on our website. These reasons explain why returns may take longer to process, such as when we're waiting for information from other sources, conducting reviews, or balancing accounts with other government agencies.

nadyapreston(Initiate)Registered Tax Professional
21 Apr 2026

Hi Jay,


I'm aware of how to view clients' lodgement history as mentioned in the second paragraph. I was not referring to this, however.


I was referring to an email subscription where we could receive a weekly reports in PDF form which shows a list of clients' returns that may take longer to be processed. I wasn't looking to check the clients' returns one by one, and even then, it'd be hard to track everyone's returns progress especially if it's a case of compromised TFN and we'd have to call the identity support team to unlock.


To conclude, I'm just wondering where I could sign up for an email subscription like this: [removed by moderator]


This would save our team heaps of time and help clients lots.


Thanks in advance!

KaraATO(Community Support)Community Support
22 Apr 2026

Hi @nadyapreston,


Apologies for any confusion on our end - yes, if there are processing delays with your client's 'electronically' lodged tax returns, we'll email you a weekly report that provides details of what may be causing the delay.


This is probably the 'PDF' report your ex-employee was receiving. You don't need to sign up as it's an automatic service for registered tax agents. The weekly reports are sent to the email address associated with your Online services for agents account, so you'll want to make sure your contact details are up to date with us.


Your clients will first appear on the tax return status report 26 days after lodgment. The report should include all clients with delayed returns, up to one year from the date of lodgment.


If you don't end up receiving the report and believe you do have impacted clients, give us a call. If the operative over the phone can't resolve your enquiry, you can ask for the matter to be escalated off for further review.

nadyapreston(Initiate)Registered Tax Professional
22 Apr 2026

@KaraATO

Thanks heaps Kara,


That clears up a lot, but the email address associated with the account was never the former employee's, which confused us even more. Are there settings specifically for this report in RAM/TPB? Can more than one person receive the report? We'd like to move it to a shared inbox.


Thanks again!

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How do I receive a weekly report for clients' tax returns status with their reasons? | ATO Community