The big four banks, miners and supermarket giants are driving the Morrison government's return to surplus, paying $26 billion in tax last year on the back of rising profits and increased compliance.

The figures, from the Australian Taxation Office's annual tax transparency report, show the average tax paid of 1520 companies with more than $100 million in revenue was 27.4 per cent – below the statutory rate of 30 per cent. After making a loss, more than 730 companies paid no tax, dragging the average tax rate down to 18.5 per cent.

More than 100 unidentified companies are being targeted by the Tax Office for "systemic non-compliance".

The big four banks were once again among Australia's largest taxpayers. The Commonwealth Bank paid $4.3 billion in tax, with Westpac adding $3.25 billion to public coffers. Both had tax rates at 30 per cent. AMP, which was embroiled in scandal during the banking royal commission, paid an effective tax rate of 11 per cent after carrying forward losses of $344 million in 2016.