Quick answer
Yes, many Australian businesses get funding without current financial statements or lodged tax returns. Cash flow lenders can assess recent business bank statements instead, sometimes alongside an ATO portal statement or BAS. Unsecured amounts typically range from $5k to $500k. Missing returns are not ignored, though: lenders will want to understand why they are outstanding and whether tax obligations are under control.
Key points
- Bank statements can replace financials for many unsecured amounts.
- Lenders still want to know why returns are outstanding.
- An ATO portal statement often bridges the gap.
- Catching up on lodgements widens your options over time.
- Used instead
- Business bank statements
- Often requested
- ATO portal statement
- Typical amount
- $5k to $500k unsecured
- Longer term
- Get lodgements up to date
“Can I get a loan if my tax returns are not done?” is one of the most common questions small business owners ask, usually quietly and slightly embarrassed. It should not be embarrassing. Accountants get busy, owners prioritise customers, and in a fast-growing year the paperwork almost always lags the business. The short answer is that many lenders can help without current financials. The longer answer, below, is about doing it in a way that keeps future options open.
Why bank statements can stand in for financials
Financial statements summarise a year of trading after the fact. Bank statements show trading as it happens. For a cash flow lender deciding whether a business can carry a repayment over the next six or twelve months, recent statements are often more useful than last year’s accounts. They show the current level of deposits, regular costs, existing debts and any strain in the account.
That is why statement-based lending has grown so quickly. Shared securely through a read-only connection, a few months of statements can be assessed far faster than a set of accounts. For unsecured amounts, typically $5k to $500k, this is often all a lender needs alongside ID and an active ABN. See low-doc business loans for how documentation levels work.
What lenders still want to know
Missing returns are not ignored. A lender will usually ask:
- Why are the returns outstanding? Busy accountant, changed bookkeeper and growth spurt are all common and understandable reasons.
- Is there tax owing? An ATO portal statement shows balances and any payment plan.
- Are BAS lodgements up to date? Lodging BAS on time, even with a balance, signals a business that is engaging with its obligations.
- Is someone working on it? A note that your accountant is preparing the returns, with a rough timeframe, adds confidence.
Being open about all of this is the fastest path. Lenders see ATO payments, or the lack of them, in your statements anyway. Ready to see what is possible now? Start your enquiry, and mention what is outstanding.
The ATO portal statement: your best friend
If your returns are behind, an ATO portal statement is the most useful single document you can provide. It shows the lender your current tax position at a glance: balances, payment arrangements and recent payments. Your accountant or BAS agent can usually download one quickly, or you can access it through the ATO’s online services for business. It often turns a “maybe” into a “yes” and supports a larger amount than statements alone.
When missing financials make things harder
There are limits. Larger amounts, longer terms and property-secured loans usually need fuller documentation, because the lender is taking on more risk for longer. Some industries and some lender policies also require recent financials as standard. And if overdue returns sit alongside a significant unmanaged tax debt, the picture becomes more complex. In that case, our pages on business loans with ATO debt and ATO tax bill funding are worth reading.
Catch up as you go
A statement-based loan can fund today’s need, but getting lodgements up to date widens your options for the next one. Practical steps:
- Book a time with your accountant and give them everything they ask for in one go.
- Keep BAS lodged on time even if you cannot pay the full balance immediately.
- Separate business and personal spending so next year’s accounts are easier.
- Keep digital copies of invoices and receipts as you go; the ATO’s record keeping guidance sets out what you need to hold.
New businesses with no financials yet
Many newer businesses have no financial statements at all because they have not finished a full year. Lenders understand this and look at the history in the business account instead. The amount available usually grows with time trading. See new business loans for what to expect when your ABN is young.
What to say in your enquiry
You do not need to write an essay, but a few lines save a lot of back-and-forth. Mention which year’s returns are outstanding and why, whether BAS is up to date, whether there is a balance owing to the ATO and if so whether it is on a payment plan, and who your accountant or BAS agent is. Add your average monthly deposits and what the money is for. With that, a specialist can usually tell you on the first call which documents will be needed and how much is realistic, rather than discovering gaps halfway through the process.
An illustrative example
An illustrative online homewares store doubled its sales in the past year. Its bookkeeper left mid-year and last year’s return has not been lodged. The owner needs $50k for stock ahead of a major sale period. A statement-based lender reviews six months of deposits through the payment gateway, sees regular supplier payments and no dishonours, and asks for an ATO portal statement, which shows BAS lodged and a small balance on a payment plan. That is enough to fund the stock while the new bookkeeper catches up.
Fund it now, sort the paperwork next
If your business is trading well but the paperwork is behind, tell us. There is no credit check to enquire, your details are not passed to a pile of lenders, and a real person will read exactly what you write. Be honest about what is outstanding and whether there is any tax owing; it is the fastest way to the right option. Apply now.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a business loan without tax returns?
Often, yes. Many cash flow lenders assess recent business bank statements rather than tax returns for unsecured amounts. You will still need to explain why returns are outstanding.
Will overdue tax returns stop me getting funding?
Not automatically, but they are a factor. Lenders consider overdue lodgements case by case, especially if there is also tax debt. Showing you are working with an accountant to catch up helps.
What is an ATO portal statement?
It is a statement from the ATO's online services showing your account balances, payments and any payment plan. Lenders use it to see your tax position quickly without waiting for full returns.
Can a new business borrow without financials?
New businesses often have no financial statements yet. Lenders look at the bank account history instead, and the amount available usually grows with time trading.
Is it better to wait until my financials are done?
If you are not in a hurry, up-to-date financials can open more options. If the need is urgent, a statement-based loan can fund it now while the paperwork catches up.
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