A Tax File Number (TFN) is your personal reference number in Australia's tax system. You need one before you start paid work — without it, your employer must withhold tax at the highest rate. Applying is free and done online through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
Never pay for a TFN. Applying directly through the ATO is completely free. Avoid any third-party site that charges a fee to "get you a TFN".
Before you start
Make sure you have:
- Your passport.
- Your Australian visa (your TFN application is linked to it).
- An Australian address where the ATO can post your TFN.
How to apply
Most students and new arrivals apply as a foreign passport holder already in Australia:
- Go to the ATO's TFN application page for foreign passport holders: ato.gov.au.
- Choose the option for people with a valid foreign passport and an Australian visa who are in Australia.
- Complete the online form with your passport, visa and Australian address details. The ATO checks your details against Department of Home Affairs records, so make sure they match your visa exactly.
- Submit the application. You'll get a reference number — keep it safe.
After you apply
- Your TFN is posted to your Australian address, usually within about 28 days.
- Once it arrives, store it securely and only share it with your employer, bank and registered tax agent — never on social media or with strangers.
- Give your TFN to your employer by completing a Tax File Number declaration when you start work, and add it to your bank so interest isn't overtaxed.
Keeping your TFN safe
Your TFN is yours for life, even if you leave and return to Australia. Treat it like a password:
- Don't share it in job ads, emails or messages.
- A genuine employer or bank will ask for it privately, never publicly.
- If you think it's been misused, contact the ATO immediately.
Once you have your TFN, the next step is usually opening a bank account so your wages can be paid in — see how to open a bank account.