Quick answer: As a working holiday maker you pay income tax at a special rate from your first dollar, your employer must withhold it, and you must lodge a tax return for each financial year (1 July to 30 June) you worked. Superannuation your employers paid for you can be claimed back after you leave Australia through the DASP scheme, minus a withholding tax. Rates and thresholds change, so always check the ATO.
Tax is not the fun part of a working holiday, but it is where a surprising amount of money sits. Get the basics right when you start work and the refund process at the end is straightforward.
How working holiday makers are taxed
Australia has a specific tax regime for people on 417 and 462 visas. In broad terms:
- A flat rate applies to your income from the first dollar up to a threshold, with higher rates above it. There is no tax-free threshold for working holiday makers in the way there is for residents.
- Your employer must register with the ATO as an employer of working holiday makers and withhold tax at the correct rate.
- If you did not give your employer a Tax File Number, they must withhold at the highest rate, and you will need to lodge a return to get any of it back.
We deliberately do not print the rates here because they change and because some nationalities have argued for different treatment under tax treaties. Check the ATO’s “working holiday makers” page for the current figures.
The TFN: do it first
Your Tax File Number is free and you apply online through the ATO once you are in Australia. It takes up to a month to arrive by post, so apply in your first few days. Give it to every employer using the TFN declaration form. Never give it to anyone else; it is not needed to rent a room or open a phone plan. See the first week checklist.
Lodging a tax return
| Step | Detail |
|---|---|
| When | From 1 July for the year just ended. If you are leaving Australia for good before 30 June, you can lodge an early return. |
| Where | myTax inside ATO online services, linked to your myGov account. Free. |
| What you need | Your TFN, bank details, and your income statements (your employers report these to the ATO, so they usually pre-fill). |
| Deductions | Work-related expenses you paid for and can prove: certain uniforms, tools, protective gear, some course costs directly related to your current job. Rules are strict. |
| Outcome | A refund if too much was withheld, a bill if too little, or nothing either way. |
Keep every payslip and every receipt for work gear. A shoebox photo album on your phone is enough.
Using an agent
Plenty of backpackers use a tax agent, especially if they have already left the country and want someone to handle both the return and the super claim. Agents charge a fee, sometimes a percentage of the refund, so weigh that against doing it free yourself.
Taxback specialises in working holiday makers and can lodge from overseas. Taxback.com Compare fees before choosing, and remember myTax is free if your situation is simple.
Superannuation refund (DASP)
Every employer must pay superannuation contributions on top of your wages into a super fund. That money belongs to you, but you cannot touch it while you are in Australia on a working holiday visa.
After you leave, you can apply for a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP). The conditions:
- You have left Australia.
- Your visa has expired or been cancelled.
- You were on a temporary visa (417 and 462 qualify).
Apply online through the ATO’s DASP system. The fund pays you the balance minus a DASP withholding tax, which is set at a specific rate for working holiday makers and is higher than for other temporary visa holders. Again, check the current rate on the ATO site rather than trusting a forum post.
Tips that save money:
- Consolidate your super into one fund while you are still in Australia so you make one claim, not four.
- Check for lost super in ATO online services; short-term jobs often end up in a default fund you forgot about.
- Ask your fund about fees and insurance premiums that quietly erode a small balance.
Common mistakes
- Not lodging at all. The ATO knows you worked because your employers told them.
- Letting an employer withhold at the top rate all year because you never gave them your TFN.
- Leaving the country without knowing which super fund holds your money.
- Paying an agent for a return that would have taken you twenty minutes in myTax.
What to do next
- Apply for your TFN in your first week and give it to every employer.
- Save every payslip and receipt for work gear.
- Consolidate your super into one fund before you leave.
- Lodge your return through myTax, or compare an agent: Taxback.com
- After departure, claim your DASP through the ATO.
Check the wages and worker rights guide to make sure the tax and super on your payslip are correct in the first place.
Frequently asked questions
Do working holiday makers get a tax refund in Australia?
Sometimes. If your employer withheld more tax than you owed for the financial year, you get the difference back when you lodge a return. If they withheld the correct amount, there may be little or nothing to refund. Lodging is still required.
When is the Australian tax year?
It runs from 1 July to 30 June. Returns for a year are lodged from July onwards, and you can lodge early if you are leaving Australia permanently before 30 June.
Can I get my superannuation back?
Yes, once you have left Australia and your visa has ended or been cancelled, you can apply for a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP). It is taxed at a rate specific to working holiday makers before it is paid to you.
Do I need an agent to lodge my return?
No. You can lodge yourself for free through myTax in the ATO's online services. Agents charge a fee for doing it for you, which some people find worthwhile if they have moved on and want someone to chase the super refund.
