TRAVEL TIPS - Australian Tax File Number (TFN)

If your on a working holiday visa or in fact any visa that entitles you to gain employment in Australia and thats what you intend to do, then it is pretty vital that you apply for a TFN. A Tax File Number is a unique 9 digit reference number that is provided to you by the Australian Government Taxation Office. Basically, whenever you gain legitimate employment, your employer will ask for your banking details and your TFN. If you do not have a TFN, it means any income you earn is viable to be taxed at the Australian emergency tax rate which is currently around 90%. Pretty gutting if you were expecting a nice pay packet at the end of the month. To avoid this, apply for your TFN, supply it to your employer and even your bank (although this is not essential) and your income will be taxed appropriately in accordance to your visa and status.

How to apply for your Australian TFN

The process is pretty easy and quick. Although this is one thing you will not be able to prepare in advance. Despite being able to open up an Australian bank account before arriving in Aus, this is not the case with your TFN. You do have to have actually entered the country before you can apply for your TFN. However, It does only take a about 15-20 minutes and can easily be done using wifi on your phone so no need for a laptop or visit to the library. Maybe something easy and productive to do on one of those goon hangover days to make you feel better about yourself. All you need to do is supply basic information e.g. your visa details, passport and a postal address in Australia. To get more information or to apply for your TFN visit here.

Once you've applied they will post you your TFN so it's important to supply them with an address you're going to be at in the near future. Despite this, most backpacker hostels will keep hold of post for at least a month so moving around locally isn't too much of a problem. If you do find there's no way for you to pick up the post or it never comes, you can ring the taxation office (find number on above link) quote your passport number to them and they should be able to give you you're number over the phone. SORTED.

Expected time of arrival can be anywhere from 1 week to about 5 weeks, its pretty unpredictable so probably one to do on the first couple of days you arrive.