Quick answer: Apply for your Tax File Number (TFN) online on the ATO website as soon as you are in Australia — it is free and takes minutes. Give it to your employer so you are taxed at the working holiday maker rate rather than the top rate. Your employer must also pay superannuation into a fund for you; choose one fund and give the details to every employer. When you leave Australia for good, claim the super back as a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP). Rates and thresholds change, so confirm the current figures on the ATO website.
Part 1: your Tax File Number
What it is
A TFN is your unique identifier with the Australian Taxation Office. You need it for:
- Being taxed correctly at work
- Adding to your bank account so interest is not taxed at the top rate
- Lodging your tax return and getting any refund
- Claiming your super at the end
How to apply
- Be physically in Australia (you cannot apply from overseas on a working holiday visa).
- Go to the ATO website and choose the online application for foreign passport holders. It is free. Ignore any site that charges a fee to “help” you.
- Enter your passport and visa details — the ATO checks them with Home Affairs automatically.
- Give an Australian postal address. The hostel is fine if you tell reception to keep your mail; a friend’s address is safer if you will move.
- The TFN arrives by post, normally within 28 days. Once you have a myGov account linked to the ATO you can usually also see it online.
Keep your TFN private. Give it only to your employer, your bank, your super fund and the ATO.
The working holiday maker tax rate
Employers must register as employers of working holiday makers and tax you at a special rate on your income up to a threshold, with normal rates above it. As of September 2026 the first band is 15 per cent, but check the current rate and threshold on the ATO website. If your employer does not have your TFN, they must withhold at the highest rate until you provide it.
When you start a job you will fill in a TFN declaration for your employer. Tick that you are a working holiday maker.
Part 2: superannuation
What it is
Superannuation (“super”) is Australia’s compulsory retirement savings system. Employers pay a percentage of your ordinary earnings on top of your wages into a super fund in your name. The rate is set by law and has been rising; as of September 2026 it is 12 per cent, but confirm on the ATO website. It applies to casual and part-time work too, so it applies to you.
You will see super on your payslip. It is not deducted from your wage; it is extra money you cannot spend until you leave Australia.
Choosing a fund
If you do nothing, each employer may put you into their default fund, and after three jobs you will have three accounts each charging fees. Avoid that:
- Choose one fund before your first job. Look for low fees, a simple online sign-up for temporary residents and an easy DASP process. Industry funds are a common choice; compare on the ATO’s YourSuper comparison tool.
- Sign up online with your passport, TFN and Australian address.
- Give every employer your fund’s details on the superannuation standard choice form. Your myGov account linked to the ATO can show you all funds in your name.
- If you already have two accounts, consolidate them through myGov.
Checking it is paid
Employers must pay super at least quarterly (and more frequently under rules phasing in — check the ATO). Log in to your fund or myGov every few months. Unpaid super is one of the most common problems backpackers face, and you can report it to the ATO.
Part 3: claiming your super back (DASP)
When your visa has expired or been cancelled and you have left Australia, you can claim your super as a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment.
- Apply online through the ATO’s DASP system, free of charge, or through an agent for a fee.
- You need your passport details, TFN, fund details and evidence your visa is no longer in effect (the ATO checks with Home Affairs).
- The payment is taxed before it is paid. For working holiday makers the DASP tax rate is high — as of September 2026 it has been 65 per cent for most WHM super, but confirm the current rate on the ATO website.
- Have the money paid to an account you can access from home; a multi-currency account with an Australian BSB avoids a second lot of fees.
Some backpackers use a tax agent to combine their final tax return and the DASP into one process. Taxback is the service most of our community used; the ATO’s own system is free if you prefer to do it yourself.
Deals we used
- Taxback.com
- Wise
What to do next
- Apply for your TFN on the ATO website in your first week.
- Set up myGov and link the ATO.
- Choose one super fund and give the details to every employer.
- Check your payslips for super every quarter.
- Keep payslips and income statements — they are also your 88 days evidence.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Tax File Number?
A TFN is your personal reference number with the Australian Taxation Office. You need it so your employer taxes you at the working holiday rate instead of the top rate, and so you can lodge a tax return.
Can I start work before my TFN arrives?
Yes. Tell your employer you have applied and give them the number when it arrives, normally within 28 days. If you do not provide it in time, tax is withheld at the highest rate until you do.
What is superannuation?
Super is compulsory retirement savings. Your employer pays a percentage on top of your wages into a super fund in your name. As a working holiday maker you can claim most of it back after you leave Australia through a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP).
How much of my super do I get back?
The DASP is taxed before it is paid to you, and the rate for working holiday makers is high. Check the current rate on the ATO website so you know what to expect.
Do I have to lodge a tax return?
If you earned income in Australia you generally lodge a return after the financial year ends on 30 June, or before you leave permanently. Many backpackers get a refund; some owe. The ATO website explains the rules for working holiday makers.
