Running a business in Australia involves navigating public holidays and meeting financial compliance obligations. Planning ahead is essential for smooth operations and avoiding penalties. Below is a comprehensive guide to Australia’s public holidays for 2025 and key compliance deadlines.
Content Outline
Key Takeaways
National Public Holidays 2025
A list of key national holidays observed across all Australian states and territories, including New Year’s Day, Easter, Anzac Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.
State and Territory Public Holidays 2025
Each Australian state and territory has its own public holidays, with specific dates for regions like Canberra, New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria.
Key Business Compliance Deadlines 2025
Important business deadlines to ensure compliance, including BAS lodgments, superannuation contributions, and tax filings throughout the year.
Monthly and Quarterly BAS Deadlines
A detailed overview of the deadlines for monthly and quarterly BAS/IAS submissions, along with key dates for GST-related lodgments.
Superannuation and Payroll Deadlines
Information on deadlines for superannuation contributions, Single Touch Payroll finalization, and other payroll-related compliance for businesses in Australia.
National Public Holidays 2025
These holidays are observed across all states and territories:
| Date | Day | Holiday |
| 1 January | Wednesday | New Year’s Day |
| 27 January | Monday | Australia Day Holiday |
| 18 April | Friday | Good Friday |
| 19 April | Saturday | Day Following Good Friday |
| 20 April | Sunday | Easter Sunday |
| 21 April | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 25 April | Friday | Anzac Day |
| 25 December | Thursday | Christmas Day |
| 26 December | Friday | Boxing Day |
State and Territory Public Holidays 2025
In addition to the national holidays, each state and territory observes specific holidays:
Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Public Holidays 2025
| Date | Day | Holiday |
| 10 March | Monday | Canberra Day |
| 2 June | Monday | Reconciliation Day |
| 9 June | Monday | King’s Birthday |
| 6 October | Monday | Labour Day |
New South Wales (NSW) Public Holidays 2025
| Date | Day | Holiday |
| 9 June | Monday | King’s Birthday |
| 6 October | Monday | Labour Day |
Northern Territory (NT) Public Holidays 2025
| Date | Day | Holiday |
| 5 May | Monday | May Day |
| 9 June | Monday | King’s Birthday |
| 4 August | Monday | Picnic Day |
| Regional Dates | Friday | Show Days (Alice Springs, Darwin, etc.) |
Queensland (QLD) Public Holidays 2025
| Date | Day | Holiday |
| 5 May | Monday | Labour Day |
| 13 August | Wednesday | Royal Queensland Show* |
| 6 October | Monday | King’s Birthday |
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South Australia (SA) Public Holidays 2025
| Date | Day | Holiday |
| 10 March | Monday | Adelaide Cup Day |
| 9 June | Monday | King’s Birthday |
| 6 October | Monday | Labour Day |
| 26 December | Friday | Proclamation Day |
Tasmania (TAS) Public Holidays 2025
| Date | Day | Holiday |
| 10 March | Monday | Eight Hours Day |
| 9 June | Monday | King’s Birthday |
| 3 November | Monday | Recreation Day* |
Victoria (VIC) Public Holidays 2025
| Date | Day | Holiday |
| 10 March | Monday | Labour Day |
| 9 June | Monday | King’s Birthday |
| 4 November | Tuesday | Melbourne Cup Day |
Western Australia (WA) Public Holidays 2025
| Date | Day | Holiday |
| 3 March | Monday | Labour Day |
| 2 June | Monday | Western Australia Day |
| 29 September | Monday | King’s Birthday* |
Key Business Compliance Deadlines 2025
Staying compliant with ATO and industry regulations is essential for Australian businesses. Missing key tax, superannuation, or reporting deadlines can result in penalties, interest charges, and reputational risks. Below is a detailed guide to the major compliance obligations businesses must meet throughout 2025, including BAS lodgments, superannuation payments, payroll finalisation, and industry-specific submissions.
1. Monthly BAS and IAS Lodgment Deadlines
Businesses registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST) on a monthly cycle are required to lodge their Business Activity Statement (BAS) or Instalment Activity Statement (IAS) by the 21st of the following month. This applies to businesses with GST turnover exceeding $20 million or those that voluntarily opt into monthly lodgment for cash flow management.
Monthly lodgment covers:
- GST collected and paid
- PAYG withholding
- PAYG income tax instalments
- Fuel tax credits (if applicable)
The due dates for each month’s statement are as follows:
January: 21 February
February: 21 March
March: 21 April
April: 21 May
May: 21 June
June: 21 July
July: 21 August
August: 21 September
September: 21 October
October: 21 November
November: 21 December
December: 21 January (2026)
If a due date falls on a weekend or public holiday, the deadline is extended to the next business day. Late lodgment or payment may attract Failure to Lodge penalties and interest charges.
2. Quarterly BAS Lodgment Deadlines
Quarterly BAS reporting is required for most small to medium-sized businesses that are registered for GST, PAYG withholding, or PAYG instalments. This method simplifies cash flow management and administrative work by consolidating the reporting process into four quarters each year.
Quarterly due dates for 2025 are:
Q2 FY2024–25 (1 Oct – 31 Dec 2024): 28 February 2025
Q3 FY2024–25 (1 Jan – 31 Mar 2025): 26 May 2025
Q4 FY2024–25 (1 Apr – 30 Jun 2025): 25 August 2025
Q1 FY2025–26 (1 Jul – 30 Sep 2025): 25 November 2025
Businesses lodging via a registered BAS or tax agent may be eligible for extended lodgment deadlines. It is recommended to reconcile accounts and review all GST codes before submission to avoid misreporting.
3. Superannuation Guarantee Payment Deadlines
Employers are legally required to make Superannuation Guarantee (SG) contributions to their employees’ nominated super funds by set quarterly deadlines. The SG rate is 11 percent from 1 July 2024.
Super contributions must be received by the fund by the due date, not merely sent or processed. Using a SuperStream-compliant clearing house is highly recommended to ensure timely delivery.
Quarterly deadlines for super payments in 2025 are:
Q2 FY2024–25: 28 January 2025
Q3 FY2024–25: 28 April 2025
Q4 FY2024–25: 28 July 2025
Q1 FY2025–26: 28 October 2025
If super is paid late, employers must lodge a Superannuation Guarantee Charge (SGC) statement, and they may lose the tax deductibility of the contributions.
4. Single Touch Payroll (STP) Finalisation
Under the Single Touch Payroll (STP) framework, employers report wages, PAYG withholding, and superannuation details to the ATO in real time with each pay cycle. At the end of the financial year, employers must finalise their STP data so that employee income statements can be marked as tax-ready in myGov.
The deadline for STP finalisation for the 2024–25 financial year is 14 July 2025.
To meet this deadline, employers should ensure payroll records are accurate and reconciled before year-end. Late or incorrect finalisation can delay employees from lodging their individual tax returns and may trigger ATO compliance reviews.
5. Taxable Payments Annual Report (TPAR)
The Taxable Payments Annual Report (TPAR) applies to businesses in certain industries that make payments to contractors. These industries include:
- Building and construction
- Cleaning services
- Courier and delivery
- Information technology services
- Road freight
- Security and surveillance
TPAR is due by 28 August 2025 and must include:
- Contractor names and ABNs
- Total amounts paid during the year
- Any GST paid to the contractor
Failure to lodge the TPAR can result in significant penalties. To prepare, businesses should ensure that contractor details and payments are properly recorded throughout the year.
6. QLeave Workers Service Return
QLeave is Queensland’s portable long service leave scheme that applies to eligible workers in the construction, cleaning, and community services industries. Employers operating in these sectors are required to submit an annual Worker Service Return by 31 July 2025.
This return must detail:
- Total days or hours worked by each eligible worker
- Leave taken during the year
- Gross wages paid
Employers who fail to submit accurate and timely returns may be subject to compliance action and required to make retrospective contributions. Similar long service leave schemes exist in other states under different names, such as CoINVEST (Victoria) and the Long Service Corporation (NSW).
7. WorkCover Declarations
Annual declarations are due by 31 August 2025. Pay by 16 September 2025 for premium discounts.
Summary Table of Key Deadlines
| Compliance Requirement | Due Date |
|---|---|
| Monthly BAS/IAS | 21st of each month |
| Quarterly BAS | 28 Feb, 26 May, 25 Aug, 25 Nov |
| Superannuation Guarantee | 28 Jan, 28 Apr, 28 Jul, 28 Oct |
| STP Finalisation | 14 July 2025 |
| TPAR | 28 August 2025 |
| QLeave Service Return (QLD) | 31 July 2025 |
For further details about public holidays, refer to the government of your state or territory of Australia. FastLaneRecruit specializes in helping businesses hire top talent from Southeast Asia and Malaysia. Whether you’re looking to grow your remote team or manage payroll effectively, we provide tailored solutions to meet your needs. Contact FastLaneRecruit. Let us guide you through the process with ease. Talk to us!
