Your First Tax Return in Australia
Recently arrived and worked a few shifts? You will likely need to lodge a tax return, and many students get money back. Here is the plain-English version, step by step.
This is general information, not tax advice. Afrovo is a migration and education consultancy, not a registered tax agent. For guidance on your own situation, use the official Australian Taxation Office (ato.gov.au) or speak to a registered tax agent. Tax rules change, so always confirm current details with the ATO.
Key dates to know
Miss the 31 October deadline and the ATO can charge a late penalty (starting around AUD $330), so lodge in time even if you owe nothing.
How to Do Your First Tax Return
For most students this is simpler than it sounds. Five steps from your first payslip to your refund.
Get your Tax File Number (TFN)
Your TFN is your personal tax ID. It is free directly from the ATO, and you should give it to your employer within the first 28 days of starting work, otherwise more tax may be taken from your pay. Never pay a website to get a TFN for you, as that is a common scam.
Check if you are a resident for tax purposes
This is not about your visa. Most students who live in Australia for more than six months are treated as Australian residents for tax purposes, which means you generally pay no tax on the first AUD $18,200 you earn in a year (the tax-free threshold). The ATO has the tests for your exact situation.
Set up myGov and link the ATO
Create a free myGov account and link the Australian Taxation Office service to it. Your income statement, which your employer reports automatically through Single Touch Payroll, appears there. It is usually marked "tax ready" from around mid-July, and you do not normally need a paper payment summary.
Lodge your return
You can lodge online yourself with myTax (free, inside myGov), use the ATO free Tax Help program if you are on a lower income, or use a registered tax agent for a fee. Most students with a simple job or two can do it themselves in well under an hour.
Get your refund, or pay any small amount owed
If more tax was taken from your pay during the year than you actually owed, the difference is refunded to your Australian bank account. If you earned above the threshold and not enough was withheld, you may owe a small amount. Either way, lodging on time keeps you in the clear.
What you need before you start
- Your Tax File Number (TFN)
- A myGov account linked to the ATO
- Your Australian bank account details (for a refund)
- Your income statement(s), which come through myGov
- Records of any work-related expenses you plan to claim
Free and low-cost ways to lodge
Do it yourself with myTax
FreeLodge online through your myGov account. Best when your situation is simple: a job or two and no complicated deductions.
ATO Tax Help program
FreeTrained ATO volunteers help eligible people on lower incomes lodge their return, usually from July to October. Many students qualify.
A registered tax agent
PaidA professional lodges for you, which can be worth it for trickier situations. Only use an agent registered with the Tax Practitioners Board.
Don't forget your super
While you work, your employer also pays superannuation (retirement savings) on top of your wage, into a super fund. When you permanently leave Australia and your visa has ended, you may be able to claim that money back through a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP). You apply for it free through the ATO, so there is no need to pay an agent to do it for you.
Watch out for tax scams
Scammers pretend to be the ATO, especially around tax time. The real ATO will never threaten you with arrest, demand payment in gift cards or cryptocurrency, or ask for your myGov password. If a message feels off, do not click the link. Go to ato.gov.au directly, or report a scam to the ATO on 1800 008 540.
Tax Questions Students Ask
Do international students need to lodge a tax return?
If you earned income in Australia during the tax year, you generally need to lodge a return, or tell the ATO you do not need to. If tax was withheld from your pay, lodging is also how you claim any refund.
Is getting a Tax File Number free?
Yes. A TFN is free directly from the ATO. Never pay a third-party website to get one for you.
When is the tax deadline?
The Australian tax year ends on 30 June, and if you lodge your own return the deadline is 31 October. Using a registered tax agent can give you a later deadline.
Will I get money back?
Many students do. If more tax was taken from your pay during the year than you owed, the difference is refunded to your bank account after you lodge.
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Afrovo provides this page as general information for international students. It is not tax, financial or legal advice, and Afrovo is not a registered tax agent. For advice about your own circumstances, use the Australian Taxation Office at ato.gov.au, the free ATO Tax Help program if you are eligible, or a tax agent registered with the Tax Practitioners Board. Figures such as the tax-free threshold and deadlines are indicative and can change, so always confirm current details with the ATO.
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