Quick answer
On national public holidays such as Good Friday, Easter Monday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, the RBA's RITS settlement system is closed (as observed in NSW and Victoria), so property-secured business loans can't settle and most lenders don't assess or release funds. Enquiries, document gathering and fast NPP payments still work. Treat a public holiday like a Sunday and plan for the next business morning.
Key points
- RITS closes on eight national public holidays as observed in NSW and Victoria.
- State-only holidays can still slow local services such as valuers and solicitors.
- Fast NPP payments run on public holidays; BPAY waits for the next banking business day.
- ATO lodgment and payment due dates on a public holiday move to the next business day.
- RITS on national holidays
- Closed
- NPP fast payments
- Running, subject to bank
- BPAY
- Next banking business day
- Enquiry
- Open any time
For plenty of businesses, a public holiday is a normal trading day — often a busy one. For the banking system, it’s closer to a Sunday. That mismatch is exactly why public holiday funding catches people out: the problem arrives on a day when you’re working flat out, and the machinery that would fix it is switched off.
Which public holidays stop business funding?
The one that matters most is the Reserve Bank’s RITS, which settles property transactions and interbank payments. According to the RBA, RITS closes on these public holidays when they’re observed in NSW and Victoria:
| Holiday | 2026 date | What it means for funding |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thursday 1 January | Closed for settlement |
| Australia Day | Monday 26 January | Closed for settlement |
| Good Friday | Friday 3 April | Closed — first day of a four-day gap |
| Easter Monday | Monday 6 April | Closed — last day of the gap |
| Anzac Day | Saturday 25 April | Falls on a weekend in 2026 |
| King’s Birthday | Monday 8 June (NSW, Vic) | Closed for settlement |
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 December | Closed |
| Boxing Day | Saturday 26 December, with an additional holiday Monday 28 December | Closed through to Tuesday 29 December |
Dates are from the Fair Work Ombudsman’s 2026 public holiday list. The King’s Birthday is a different date in Queensland (5 October 2026) and Western Australia (28 September 2026), which matters for local services even though RITS follows NSW and Victoria.
What still works on a public holiday?
More than people expect:
- Your enquiry. The form is open, takes about 60 seconds and involves no credit check. It’s read on the next business morning.
- Your paperwork. Internet banking, accounting software and government online services are generally available, so statements, a profit and loss and an ATO statement can all be pulled today.
- Fast payments. The NPP runs 24/7. If you already have funds, an Osko or PayID payment may reach a supplier today, although banks can hold some payments for security checks.
What waits: loan assessment, valuations, signing, property settlement and BPAY, which goes through on the next banking business day.
What about state-only holidays?
Some holidays apply in one state or even one city — Labour Day, Melbourne Cup, the Royal Queensland Show in Brisbane and others. RITS may be open, but the people your loan depends on might not be: valuers, solicitors, councils and sometimes your own bookkeeper. If a local holiday falls in the middle of a tight timeline, assume that day is slow and plan around it. The Your next 24 hours planner lets you tick a local holiday so it’s skipped in your plan.
Holiday or not, you can get in the queue now. Start your enquiry — there’s no credit check when you first enquire.
Do tax and super deadlines move for public holidays?
Some do. For the BAS, the ATO’s due-date rules push a weekend or public holiday deadline to the following business day, for lodgment and payment alike. For Payday Super, a public holiday that applies across a whole state or territory isn’t a business day — even if you’re not in that state — while holidays covering only part of a state don’t count.
That can give you a day’s breathing space on some obligations. It doesn’t move wages, rent or a supplier’s patience. Our guide to due dates that land on a weekend or public holiday goes through the rules in more detail.
Why do public holidays squeeze cash flow in the first place?
Often it’s not the holiday itself but what surrounds it. A few patterns show up again and again:
- Wages cost more. Staff who work a public holiday are generally entitled to extra pay under their award or agreement, and permanent staff who’d normally work that day are generally still paid for it if you close. The public holiday wages guide explains how to budget for it.
- Customers pay later. Accounts teams take the day off too, so a payment you expected on the Friday may not land until the Tuesday.
- Direct debits bunch up. Debits that would have come out on the holiday often come out on the next business day, alongside everything else due that day.
- Suppliers want payment before the break. Some ask for accounts to be settled before they close.
None of these is dramatic on its own. Together, across a four-day Easter or a Christmas shutdown, they can turn a comfortable balance into a tight one.
How do you plan around a public holiday?
Work backwards from the last business day before it.
- Identify the deadline. When does the money actually need to be somewhere?
- Find the last business day before it. Skip weekends and closed holidays.
- Enquire early enough to use that day. For anything property-secured, that means having a complete file before the break.
- Use the holiday for paperwork. Enquiries sent on a public holiday are waiting for the next business morning.
Illustrative example: the Monday holiday that moved payday
Illustrative only; not a real client.
A small building company in Melbourne pays staff every second Tuesday. In June, the King’s Birthday falls on the Monday before payday. On the Saturday before, the owner realises a progress payment hasn’t arrived. With Monday closed, Tuesday is the first business morning — the same day wages are due.
He enquires on Saturday night, gathers statements and the rates notice for the family home on Sunday, and emails his team on Monday explaining that pay may arrive a day late. On Tuesday a specialist calls early; with the file ready, same-day property-secured funding is possible, and he keeps his team informed through the day.
Holidays close the banks, not your options
A public holiday is a pause, not a dead end. The enquiry, the documents and the plan can all be done today, so the first business morning is spent moving rather than starting.
When you’re ready, the form takes about a minute. A holiday enquiry involves no credit check, your details aren’t sprayed out to multiple lenders, and a real person reads it on the first business morning and calls you. Fill it in accurately, especially the amount, purpose and any property, so the first call can get to the right option. See if you qualify today.
Frequently asked questions
Which public holidays close the banking settlement system?
The RBA lists New Year's Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, King's Birthday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, when observed in NSW and Victoria. RITS is also closed on weekends.
What about a public holiday that only applies in my state?
RITS may still be open, but local valuers, solicitors, councils and your own team may not be. Plan as if that day is slower than usual, and check with anyone you're relying on.
Does the ATO extend deadlines that fall on a public holiday?
For BAS, yes. When a BAS due date lands on a weekend or public holiday, the ATO gives you until the following business day to lodge and pay.
Can I still enquire on a public holiday?
Yes. The form is open around the clock. Your enquiry is read on the next business morning, and you can use the holiday to get documents ready.
Do public holidays count as business days for Payday Super?
No, if the holiday applies across a whole state or territory. The ATO says such a day isn't a business day for Payday Super even if you're not in that state.