The TFN (Tax File Number) is the tax number issued by the Australian tax office, the ATO. Applying is free and done online once you are in Australia. If someone charges you to get one, that payment is not part of the official process.
This guide is general information, not tax advice. The pages we opened do not distinguish by nationality.
When and where do you apply?
According to Tourism Australia:
- You cannot apply before you arrive.
- You need a valid visa that allows you to work.
- The online application takes about 20 minutes.
The process is on the ATO website, in the TFN information and in the application for migrants and temporary visitors. These are the links Westpac gives. We have not been able to read them, because we could not check the ATO website, but you can open them in a browser.
What details does it ask for?
Tourism Australia lists these:
- Passport or travel document number.
- A postal address in Australia.
- Your legal name and any other name you have used.
- Your contact details.
Can I work without a TFN?
The sources do not agree:
- Tourism Australia says you do not need it to work, but without it you may pay more tax and lose benefits.
- Etax, a tax return company, says it is needed to work and that many employers will not hire without it.
- business.gov.au, from the Government, says an employer may ask you for it.
We could not check the official withholding figure on the pay of someone who does not give one.
What else is it for?
| Where | What happens |
|---|---|
| Bank | Without a TFN, the bank may withhold from your interest the highest marginal rate plus the Medicare Levy. More in opening an account |
| Tax return | It is used when you lodge your tax return. More in tax on a Working Holiday |
| Retirement fund | The employer has 14 days to pass your TFN to the fund |
| Claiming your retirement savings when you leave | In the official system it is shown as optional, although it helps find your money. More in the superannuation guide |
| Working for yourself | A sole trader uses their personal TFN. More in the ABN guide |
Is a TFN the same as an ABN?
No. The ABN identifies a business and does not replace the TFN. An employee uses the TFN. Someone who invoices for themselves usually uses both.
What about my home country's tax number?
It is a different number. The TFN is the Australian version of the tax identification number, and each country has its own. When opening an account, some banks ask you for the one from your country of tax residence.
Where do I find it if I do not remember it?
Westpac cites four places: myGov, your tax assessment, ATO letters and your retirement fund statement.
What we could not confirm
All of this depends on ATO pages, which we could not check. The answer is on its website.
- How long the TFN takes to arrive and by what route.
- What withholding applies to the pay of someone who does not give a TFN.
- The rules for New Zealanders or other nationalities with special treatment.
- The word "free" on the ATO website. We confirm it through Westpac, not through the ATO itself.
Sources
Seen on 5 November 2026.
- Tourism Australia: how to set up your life (official; modified in May 2025, according to its metadata)
- business.gov.au: register for a TFN (official)
- business.gov.au: register for an ABN (official)
- business.gov.au: superannuation (official)
- ATO: DASP application system (official)
- Westpac: moving to Australia (company; confirms it is free)
- Westpac: add your TFN (company)
- CommBank: moving to Australia (company)
- Etax: backpacker tax (company; undated and with some outdated information)
- Hostplus: if you leave Australia (pension fund)