Federal finances are still expected to fall back into deficit next year, based on Treasury forecasts, although a second surplus cannot be ruled out given the uncertain economic environment.
The surplus posted for the 2022/23 financial year is the first time in 15 years that the government has brought in more revenue than it has spent.
The last surplus was delivered under the Howard coalition government in 2007/08 not long before the global financial crisis.
The 2022/23 figure is well above the slender $4.3 billion forecast in the May budget.
Tax receipts came in $13.2 billion higher than estimated in the budget, driven by higher corporate tax collection buoyed by higher commodity prices in the resources sector.
Receipts from total individuals and other withholding taxes came in $0.3 billion below the budget estimate.
Payments were $4 billion lower than estimated in the budget to reflect lower-than-estimated demand for health and aged care programs.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said a stronger budget would serve as the foundation to "build everything that we want to do for our people and our society".
"The $100 billion turnaround achieved in our first year in office is the biggest nominal budget improvement in Australian history," he said when releasing the final budget outcome statement.
People working and earning more was the biggest contributor to the budget improvement, followed by commodity prices, Dr Chalmers said.
Treasury forecasts have the budget falling into deficit again this year as commodity prices continue to moderate.
Dr Chalmers said there was a lot that could happen between now and the May budget next year.
"There's an element of unpredictability when it comes to revenue at the moment because the global economic environment is uncertain, particularly in China."
Economist and budget expert Chris Richardson said the budget numbers had "hugely improved" and had managed to bring net debt as a share of the economy back to pre-COVID levels.
The higher-than-expected number was largely a consequence of Treasury failing to accurately guess the impact of "war and inflation" on tax collection, Mr Richardson said.
"To be clear, that money was always there, and it had nothing to do with the change of government," Mr Richardson said.
Dr Chalmers asserted the federal government's fiscal management had played a role in the improved budget position.
The government's decision to bank most of the revenue upgrades "has been exactly right for the times and suited to the challenges we confront", he said.
The strategy has lowered gross debt by $87.2 billion compared with pre-election estimates, saving taxpayers $12 billion in interest payments.
The improvement to the budget bottom line is expected to be fleeting as structural pressures start to weigh on the public purse.
The Intergenerational Report released in August showed the budget returning to deficits to reflect growing spending on health and aged care, the National Disability Insurance Scheme, defence and interest payments on government debt.
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