How to Apply for a TFN in Australia: Online Steps and Timing

To apply for a tax file number (TFN) in Australia, Australian citizens aged 15 or over can apply online with a Strong Digital ID such as myID. Other residents apply online and confirm identity at Australia Post. Visa holders with work rights apply online with their passport. It is free, and the TFN usually arrives within 28 days.

A TFN is your personal reference number in Australia’s tax and superannuation systems. It is usually nine digits long, it is unique to you, and you keep it for life. You do not get a new one when you change jobs, change your name, move interstate or go overseas.

The details below were checked on the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website in October 2026.

Also readHow Long Does an IRS Refund Take After It Is Accepted?

Who needs a TFN in Australia?

Having a TFN is not compulsory. The ATO states plainly that you do not have to have one. In practice, though, almost anyone who earns money in Australia will want one, because life without it is more expensive and more complicated.

You will normally need a TFN if you:

• Start a job in Australia, including casual, part-time and seasonal work
• Open a bank or savings account that earns interest
• Join a superannuation fund or receive employer super contributions
• Want to lodge a tax return online
• Plan to apply for an Australian business number (ABN)
• Need government benefits or allowances, such as JobSeeker
• Enrol at university and use a government loan scheme

There is no minimum age to hold a TFN. The only age rule is for the fastest online route: you must be at least 15 to apply with a Digital ID.

What you need before you apply

Gather these before you start, so you do not have to stop halfway through:

• Proof of identity: current original identity documents. The ATO keeps the full list of accepted documents on its identity documents page.
• An Australian postal address: the TFN is sent by post, not by email or text.
• A Digital ID (optional): myID with Strong identity strength if you want the quickest route.
• Your passport and visa details: if you are a visa holder applying online.

Applying for a TFN costs nothing. Any website that charges a fee is not the ATO, and you do not need a paid service to apply.

How to apply for a TFN online with myID (Australian citizens)

This is the fastest route. It suits Australian citizens aged 15 or older who already have, or can set up, a myID with Strong identity strength. A Strong strength usually requires verifying more than one identity document and a face check in the myID app.

1. Download the myID app and set your identity strength to Strong.
2. Go to the “Apply for a TFN” section on ato.gov.au and choose the Australian residents option.
3. Select the online application using your Digital ID and sign in with myID.
4. Check the personal details pulled from your Digital ID and add any missing information, such as your postal address.
5. Submit the application and keep any reference number shown on screen.

Because your identity is already verified through myID, you do not need to visit a post office or send copies of documents.

How Australian residents apply online through Australia Post

If you cannot get a Strong Digital ID, residents can complete the ATO’s online form and then confirm their identity in person at a participating Australia Post outlet.

1. Complete the online TFN application for Australian residents on ato.gov.au. The form does not work in Internet Explorer, so use a current browser.
2. Print the application summary at the end. It includes your reference number.
3. Within 30 days of completing the form, take the printed summary and your current original proof of identity documents to a participating Australia Post outlet.
4. Sign your application at the counter once staff have sighted your documents.
5. Wait for your TFN by post. It should arrive within 28 days of the ATO receiving your completed application.

Paper and in-person options

Residents can also apply in person at a Services Australia centre using the paper form NAT 1432, with original identity documents. Another option is to post the same form with certified copies of your documents. Do not send original documents by post, and note that certified copies of digital identity documents are not accepted.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants who cannot provide enough identity documents have a separate route using form NAT 1589.

How to apply for a TFN with a foreign passport or temporary visa

Permanent migrants and temporary visitors who are in Australia and hold a valid visa with work rights can apply online. The visa must be linked to the passport or travel document you use. You do not need to send any documents to the ATO.

Visa holders who can use this online application include:

• Working holiday makers on subclass 417 and 462 visas
• Temporary Activity visa holders on subclass 408
• New Zealand citizens, whose work rights are granted automatically on arrival
• Asylum seekers on bridging visas, who use their ImmiCard number in place of a passport number
• Other permanent and temporary visa holders with work rights

The steps are straightforward:

1. Confirm that you are physically in Australia and that your visa allows work.
2. Open the TFN application for foreign passport holders, permanent migrants and temporary visitors on ato.gov.au.
3. Enter your passport or travel document details exactly as they appear, along with your personal details.
4. Give an Australian postal address where you can receive mail for the next few weeks.
5. Submit the form. Your TFN should arrive by post within 28 days.

When visa holders cannot apply online

You cannot use the online visa application if your visa carries a no-work condition, such as 8101, 8103 or 8116. Permanent migrants without work rights apply through the Australian residents route instead. Temporary visitors without work rights use the paper form for people living outside Australia, even if they are currently in the country.

TFN application options compared

Route	Who can use it	Identity check	Typical wait
Online with myID	Australian citizens aged 15 and over	Strong Digital ID	Fastest route
Online form plus Australia Post	Australian residents	Original documents sighted at a post office within 30 days	Within 28 days
Paper form NAT 1432	Australian residents	Originals at Services Australia, or certified copies by post	Not stated by the ATO
Online visa holder application	Visa holders in Australia with work rights	Passport and visa matched online	Within 28 days
Paper form for people outside Australia	Non-residents with Australian income, visitors without work rights	Certified copies	Not stated by the ATO

How long does it take to get a TFN?

For most routes, the ATO says you should receive your TFN within 28 days of it receiving your completed application and identity documents. For the Australia Post route, the clock starts once the post office has sighted your documents and the application reaches the ATO.

If 28 days pass and nothing has arrived, contact the ATO. Do not lodge a second application, as the ATO says this can cause further delays.

What happens if you do not give your employer a TFN?

When you start a job, your employer gives you a TFN declaration to complete. If you do not quote a TFN, do not claim an exemption and have not told your employer that you have applied for one, your employer must withhold tax at a much higher rate.

• Resident employees: 47% is withheld from each payment.
• Foreign resident employees: 45% is withheld from each payment.

To put that in numbers, on a weekly pay of AUD 1,000, a resident without a TFN would have AUD 470 withheld before any adjustment at tax time. You can get excess tax back when you lodge your return, but that can mean waiting many months for money you needed sooner.

There is a grace period. If you tick the box on the TFN declaration saying you have applied for a TFN or made an enquiry, you have 28 days to give it to your employer. Your employer withholds at normal rates during that time. If you still have not provided it after 28 days, the higher rate applies.

Other effects of not having a TFN

• Banks and other financial institutions withhold extra tax from interest and investment income.
• You cannot apply for government benefits or allowances, such as JobSeeker.
• You cannot lodge your tax return online.
• You cannot apply for an ABN to work as a sole trader or contractor.
• Your super fund may not be able to accept some contributions, and more tax may apply to others.

If you plan to automate a savings account, give your bank your TFN early so interest is not taxed at the top rate.

Lost your TFN? How to find it

You do not need to apply again if you have forgotten your TFN. The number is yours for life.

1. Sign in to myGov or the ATO app. If your myGov account is linked to the ATO, your TFN is shown in your ATO online services. If you do not have a myGov account, create one and link it to the ATO.
2. Check your paperwork. Your TFN appears on your notice of assessment, some ATO letters, employer income statements or payment summaries, and superannuation statements.
3. Ask your registered tax agent. They can give you the number if they manage your tax affairs.
4. Contact the ATO. If none of the above works, the ATO can help once it has confirmed your identity.

If your TFN is stolen or misused

Tell the ATO as soon as possible if your TFN is lost, stolen or you think someone else is using it. The ATO’s Client Identity Support Centre can help re-establish your identity and may add security measures to watch for unusual activity on your record.

Only share your TFN when there is a legitimate reason, such as with your employer, bank, super fund, university or a government agency. Do not include it on a CV or job application. Scammers often pose as the ATO in texts and emails, so learn how to spot phishing messages before you respond to anything asking for your tax details.

Apply as soon as you have a job offer, and once the TFN arrives, give it to your employer, bank and super fund. Having it ready also makes it easier to lodge on time and claim a refund. Our guide on getting the most from your tax refund covers general habits that apply in most tax systems.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: ATO: Apply for a TFN, ATO: TFN application for foreign passport holders and temporary visitors, ATO: What is a tax file number?, ATO: Lost or stolen TFN.