How to Get an Australian Tax File Number [SCREENSHOTS]

If you are on a Working Holiday Visa in Australia, you should apply for a Tax File Number (TFN) as soon as possible. This should be the first thing you sort out in Australia, together with opening a bank account.

There are some agencies offering to apply for the Tax File Number in your name, usually, it is also included in the Working Holiday Packages. Those services cost around 60 AUD, but it is super easy to do it yourself. By the time you purchased the service, you have already applied for the TFN yourself.

If you really want to give your money away, get in touch with us – we will do it for half the price of the cheapest offer you find on the web – it’s that simple. 🙂

Frequently Asked Questions to Apply for the Tax File Number

The following questions should guide you through everything you need to know about the application process. If something is not clear, please leave a comment below.

When can you apply for the TFN?

The easiest way to apply for an Australian TFN is the online process. Keep in mind that you need to have entered Australia before you can lodge your application. If you have yet not entered Australia, you won’t be able to file your application.

Which documents do I need for the application?

All you need to apply for the Tax File Number is a valid passport, with which you entered Australia. You don’t have to provide identification documents since your passport details are checked with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

You will be asked to provide your passport details, an Australian address (for example the one of your hostel) and details about your working visa. If you don’t have a working visa (such as a Working Holiday Visa), you cannot apply for the Tax File Number.

Where can I apply for the TFN?

The easiest and fastest way to apply for the Tax File Number is to do it online on their official site for Working Holiday Visa holders:

Follow this link: Apply for the Australian Tax File Number on the official site.

When do I get the Tax File Number?

The process can take up to 28 days. But don’t worry, in most cases, you get your TFN within one or two weeks. The Tax File Number will be sent via mail to the address you provided. It is no problem to provide an address of your hostel. You can ask the hostel, they shouldn’t have any problem with that.

If you are staying at the same address until your receive the TFN, that’s great. If you provide an address of a hostel, but you are not staying there anymore, you try to walk by there about 10 days later. Usually, they keep all the newer correspondence for some days before they throw it away.

Get your TFN via phone

Even if you have already left the city, you can get your TFN via phone. Just call this number: 13 28 61

In this case, you have to identify yourself by answering 3 of the following questions (for backpackers just arrived in Australia that means the first 3 ones):

1. Date of birth
2. Your phone number, address or e-mail
3. The number of your bank account
4. Details of your “notice of assessment”, which you get if you file your taxes at the end of the financial year of when you leave the country

If you have to contact the Australian Taxation Office at a later point, you can just provide your Tax File Number to identify yourself.

Step-by-Step Guide with Screenshots

Please note: This step-by-step guide is made for the average Working Holiday Maker. You may have to adopt the information you provide, for example, if you are married.

To start with the application of the Tax File Number open the official site of the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for Working Holiday Visa holders. Proceed by clicking on “Apply for a TFN”. On the first page, some information about the TFN is listed. You can just click “Next”.

1. step: Provide your passport number, issuing country of origin and answer the question if you have entered Australia previously.

   

    

2. step: Provide your personal details.

   

    

3. step: You most likely have to answer all these questions with “No”.

   

    

4. step: Check if you have inserted all your information correctly. You get an immediate notice if the information matches the one with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. Please note: In our case, the information does not match, because we provided dummy information. If everything is correct, you can submit it.

   

    

Now that you have seen how easy it is, do you still want to pay someone to do the TFN application for you? If yes, we will do it for half the price of the cheapest offer you can find online!

If you have any questions about the Australian Tax File Number, please leave a comment below. Follow us on Facebook for more information about Work and Travel in Australia.