Need to know
- The EOFY sales usually happen in June, but some deals will start appearing as soon as May
- Major retailers and brands offer big discounts on products lasting weeks in the lead-up to the EOFY
- You may find some bargains, but good deals are still available at other times and the EOFY season also comes with extra scam risk
At CHOICE, we're the last people to endorse frenzied sale shopping, but it's true that the end of the financial year (EOFY) can be a good opportunity to grab a bargain.
Helpfully timed to break up the months between the Boxing Day sales and the Black Friday discount block in November, this run of bargains in the middle of the calendar year can serve up big deals on a broad range of items, not all of them work-related.
This guide breaks down what these sales are, when they start and end, how you can get a bargain and what you should avoid.
On this page:
- What are the EOFY sales?
- Who has deals?
- When do the sales start and end?
- Where can you find a bargain?
- Are the EOFY sales worth it?
- Your consumer rights during the sales
- What to avoid at EOFY
What are the EOFY sales?
The EOFY sales are a recurring round of discounts leading up to the end of Australia's financial year on 30 June. They regularly attract billions in consumer spending.
Sales happen at this time because many retailers want to improve their financial position by the end of the fiscal year and clear out old stock to make space on the shop floor for new items.
Retailers use EOFY sales to clear stock and boost sales before the end of the tax year.
This need to shift older products is why you'll see some retailer deals at this time of year advertised as 'stocktake sales'.
However they're branded, these events also come at a time when many of us are thinking about which of the year's purchases we'll be able to claim back on tax, as we turn our minds to lodging our tax returns.
Recognising this, retailers take the opportunity to present us with deals on products that could be a last minute work-related, claimable purchase – such as laptops, smartphones or printers – to lessen our levies or even help us get a tax refund.
That's why you'll often see a lot of financial jargon, promises to help "smash" your taxes and invitations to "claim everything you can" mixed in with sales promotions from retailers at this time.
But just because a retailer says you can claim a purchase doesn't always mean you can. What we can deduct from tax varies from person to person, so consider your personal circumstances before buying something you plan to claim.
Who has deals?
This focus on pushing goods that consumers will be able to claim as a tax deduction means you'll often see deals on tech and appliances at EOFY.
So expect sales from tech retailers such as JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, Bing Lee and even Telstra, but also direct from manufacturer brands like Dell and Dyson.
And it's not just about the home office – you can also look forward to deals on other popular buys, from clothing and toys to furniture and homewares, with previous years seeing big sales from retailers like Myer, David Jones, Koala, Appliances Online and The Iconic.
Last year, we saw most EOFY discounts from major retailers averaging 20–50% off on particular items (not all stock), but you can sometimes see discounts of up to 70%.
When do the sales start and end?
EOFY falls at the end of June, but many brands will start their sales in the weeks beforehand.
For some brands, this year's sales have already begun: laptop brand Lenovo dropped several EOFY discounts on May 5.
But previous years suggest most major retailers won't begin introducing EOFY deals until the last week of May.
Each brand's EOFY sale period is different, so keep an eye out on your favourite retailers.
Once they're here, the sales can last anywhere from a few days to weeks, depending on the retailer, but sales by major brands will often last for up to a month.
In 2024, we saw a few retailers, including Koala, Kogan and Appliances Online, extend their sales beyond their original end dates by up to five days, ensuring they lasted into early July.
So, with start and end dates not set in stone, it's a good idea to keep an eye on your favourite retailers by following them on social media or signing up to their email newsletters to see what's being discounted and when.
Many major outlets also have sites dedicated to EOFY deals, so bookmark these pages and start checking them in the lead up to June for extra information.
Where can you find a bargain?
EOFY discounts are available both online and at physical stores; however as with other discount periods such as Black Friday, some deals may be online-only.
So if you spot a bargain, check where it's available and if there are any other conditions before heading off in pursuit of a purchase.
Some outlets also provide price matching, so consider asking about this if you see another shop selling the product you want for cheaper.
Some retailers' EOFY deals may only be available online.
Are the EOFY sales worth it?
Even though you can find significant discounts (up to 70%) on popular items during the EOFY sales, know that this run of bargains isn't the be-all and end-all.
At CHOICE, we buy all the goods we test, so we keep a close eye on prices. We've recently seen more and more sales periods crop up throughout the year and some of these come with discounts just as good as those on offer during EOFY sales.
A lot of people aren't having to wait until June to get a good deal and neither may you
On top of recent additions to the established sales calendar such as Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday, individual retailers are also having their own sales on an increasingly regular basis.
The Australian Bureau Statistics has picked up on this trend, observing "weaker than usual" spending during previous EOFY seasons due to there being more sales in the lead up to this traditional sales block.
In other words, a lot of people aren't having to wait until June to get a good deal and neither may you.
Follow your favourite brands on social media to catch any offers as they come up.
With more sales throughout the year, you may not have to wait until EOFY to get a good deal.
Your consumer rights during the sales
Australian Consumer Law (ACL) gives you certain rights when you buy a good or service from an Australian business, whether it be a physical store or online.
Companies can't take away these rights with anything they do or say, even during sale periods.
Under the law, retailers must provide a remedy (refund, replacement or repair) for a faulty product, but they're not obliged to give you a refund or exchange if you just change your mind or find that something doesn't fit.
Find out more about what you're entitled to with our guide to using your consumer guarantees.
What to avoid at EOFY
Dud products
There's no point saving big bucks on a product if it's a dud.
Whether you're buying a TV, headphones, a smart speaker or a home appliance, check CHOICE reviews before you buy to ensure you're getting a good deal and sign up for our alerts for the products to avoid.
Extended warranties
Extended warranties are extra guarantees about the lifespan of a product that retailers commonly offer on expensive items.
Sometimes also called 'protection' or 'product care' plans, these add-ons come at a cost, but most of them aren't worth it.
This is because they often carry the same or weaker protections as your existing (and free) ACL rights, which decree that expensive products should last a reasonable amount of time, such as a few years.
If staff are trying to upsell you to one of these plans, ask what rights it will give you beyond the ACL.
Scams
We often see scammers setting up fake copies of major retailer websites in an effort to steal money and information from unsuspecting shoppers.
To make matters worse, we've previously spotted social media companies and search engines allowing ads for these sites on their platforms.
Recent regulations requiring tech companies and other big businesses to prevent, detect and disrupt scams will hopefully reduce the chance of this occurring again, but it's still worthwhile getting familiar with how to spot common shopping scams.
Signs a site could be a fake include prices that seem too good to be true, unusual URLs and important information that's missing. Read more with our guide to spotting a scam shopping site.
While you're shopping, you may also find yourself the target of other scams commonly circulating around EOFY.
Many of these are attempts to steal your money or personal information. You may receive messages claiming to be sent on behalf of the Australian Tax Office or other government agencies. Learn how to spot these phishing attempts with our guide to the five most common tax scams.
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Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
