The Australian Taxation Office has updated general and shortfall interest charge rates for the fourth quarter of the 2025–26 income year.
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) announced the general interest charge (GIC) rates and shortfall interest charge (SIC) rates for the fourth quarter of the 2025-26 income year on 6 March 2025.
For the quarter commencing on 1 April 2026, the GIC annual rate is set at 10.96%, and the SIC annual rate is set at 6.96%.
| Quarter | GIC annual rate | SIC annual rate |
| April – June 2026 | 10.96% | 6.96% |
| January – March 2026 | 10.65% | 6.65% |
The GIC applies if a tax amount or other liability remains unpaid beyond its due date. This includes tax shortfalls from amendments or corrections, underestimating tax instalments, or late lodgment of returns. The GIC rates are updated quarterly, with new rates announced about two weeks before each quarter begins.
If a tax return is amended, resulting in a shortfall, the SIC is applied instead of the GIC, as taxpayers are typically unaware of the shortfall until they receive the amended assessment.
These rates have been increased from the previous quarter, beginning 1 January 2026, up from 10.65% GIC and 6.65% SIC.
