How to apply for a Tax File Number (TFN) as a new arrival
What a TFN is, why you need one, and how to apply online for free once you are in Australia.
In short
A tax file number (TFN) is your personal reference number in Australia's tax and super system, and it is free. Give it to your employer and your bank: without it, tax is taken from your pay and bank interest at the highest rate.
What to do
Free, takes about 20 minutes online, and you must already be in Australia.
What you need to know
- Passport number and country, matching your visa
- Name and date of birth exactly as on your passport
- Residential address and an Australian postal address (no PO box for the residential one)
- Phone, email, and a device set to an Australian time zone
The letter comes by post and can take up to 28 days. Save the receipt ID and do not apply twice.