What is a Tax File Number?

A TFN is a unique number the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) gives you for tax and superannuation. You keep the same number for life, even if you change jobs, address or visa. You give it to your employer, your bank and your super fund so they can report your income and tax correctly.

Yes. Applying for a TFN is completely free through the Australian Taxation Office at ato.gov.au. There is no fee to apply, to speed it up or to find a lost number. If a website asks you to pay, it is not the official service, and it may be a scam collecting your passport details.

When can I apply for a TFN?

You can apply once you are in Australia and hold an eligible visa, such as one with work rights, a student visa or a permanent visa. People with a foreign passport apply online through the ATO for free. Your visa is checked automatically, so there is nothing to upload, and the TFN is posted to your Australian address.

How long does it take to get a TFN?

Allow up to 28 days. The ATO says that is how long it can take to post your TFN to your Australian address after you apply. You can start work before it arrives by telling your employer you have applied, so apply in your first days in Australia rather than waiting for a job offer.

Can I work in Australia without a TFN?

Yes, for a short time. You can start a job while your TFN is on the way, but you must give it to your employer within 28 days. If you do not, tax is taken from your pay at the highest rate until you provide it. You get the extra tax back later through your tax return.

How do I get a TFN on a working holiday visa?

The same way as everyone else, through the free online application on the ATO website once you are in Australia. Your visa is checked automatically, so there is nothing to upload. Employers of working holiday makers use a separate tax rate, which is why giving them your TFN early matters.

Can international students get a Tax File Number?

Yes. If you hold a student visa with work rights you can apply online through the ATO as soon as you arrive, for free. You need it before your first payday, not before you start looking for work.

Can I apply for a TFN before arriving in Australia?

Generally no. The standard online application for foreign passport holders is for people already in Australia with a valid visa, and the TFN is posted to an Australian address. Apply in your first days here instead. You can still start work while it arrives, as long as you give the number to your employer within 28 days.

What happens if I lose my TFN?

You do not need to apply again, because the number is yours for life. Find it in your myGov account linked to the ATO, on an old payslip or tax return, or by phoning the ATO to confirm your identity.

Is a "TFN number" the same as a Tax File Number?

Yes. TFN just stands for Tax File Number, so "TFN number" says the same thing twice. You will also see it written as tax file no, taxation file number, or simply tax number. There is only one number and one free application.

What is the difference between a TFN and an ABN?

A TFN is your personal tax number as an employee. An ABN is a business number for people who work for themselves. If a job asks you to get an ABN to be paid, you would be treated as a contractor rather than an employee, which changes your pay, tax and superannuation. Check with the ATO or Fair Work before agreeing.

Newcomer guide

Getting a Tax File Number (TFN)

A Tax File Number, or TFN, is your personal number for tax and government payments in Australia. You need one to work and to be taxed correctly. It is free, and most newcomers can apply online.

Last updated 6 October 2026

This guide is general information, not legal, tax or migration advice. Rules can change, so check the official source, such as ato.gov.au, for your own situation.

What a TFN is, in plain terms

A Tax File Number is your personal number for the Australian tax system. Think of it like a tax ID. You use it when you start a job, when you open a bank account, and when you deal with government services. You keep the same number for the rest of your life, even if you change your job, your address, or your visa.

It is issued by the Australian Taxation Office, usually written as the ATO.

The other names you will see for it

Australian forms and job ads are not consistent about what they call it. You will see TFN, TFN number, tax file no, taxation file number, or just tax number. Every one of these means the same thing.

TFN is simply short for Tax File Number, so "TFN number" repeats itself, which is why it looks odd once you notice it. It is still what most employers say out loud. There is one number, one free application, and no separate "TFN number" to chase.

Who needs one

You need a TFN if you plan to work, or if you want to be taxed at the normal rate rather than the highest one. Students, working-holiday visa holders, skilled workers and permanent residents all use a TFN.

You can live in Australia for a short time without one, but the moment you want a job, a TFN is the first thing your employer will ask for.

How to apply, step by step

Most newcomers use the ATO's online application for people with a foreign passport. The steps are short:

Be in Australia with a valid visa. The online form checks your visa automatically, so there is nothing to upload.
Go to the official ATO website and find the page for applying for a TFN. Start at ato.gov.au and search for "tax file number". Only use the government site.
Fill in your details. You will need your passport, your Australian address, and your arrival details.
Submit. You do not pay anything. The ATO posts your TFN to your Australian address.
Wait up to 28 days. Your number arrives by mail. Keep it somewhere safe and private.

What to do once you have it

Give it to your employer. When you start a job you fill in a short "TFN declaration". This tells your employer how much tax to take from your pay.
Give it to your bank. This stops the bank withholding extra tax on your interest. See our guide on opening a bank account.
Keep it private. Your TFN is sensitive. Share it only with your employer, your bank, your super fund, and the ATO. Never post it online or send it to a stranger.

If you are on a working holiday visa

The application is identical to everyone else's: the free online form on the ATO website, once you are in Australia with a valid visa.

The part that is different is what happens afterwards. Employers of working holiday makers are taxed under a separate rate from other workers, and to apply it your employer needs to be registered for it and needs your TFN. If you do not hand over the number, you are taxed at the top rate instead, which on hospitality or farm wages is a large chunk of your pay to wait a year to reclaim.

If you move between employers often, which is normal on a working holiday, you will fill in a new TFN declaration each time. The number never changes, so keep it somewhere you can find quickly on a first day.

If you are an international student

If your student visa includes work rights, you can apply for a TFN as soon as you arrive, free, through the same online form. You do not need a job offer first. You can check your visa conditions, including work rights, through the VEVO service on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Do it in your first week. Universities and colleges often mention it during orientation, and it is one of the few pieces of admin that is genuinely quick. Your TFN also matters for your superannuation, which your employer pays on top of your wage once you start working, and for the tax return you file at the end of the financial year on 30 June. Most people lodge it through myGov, and if you lodge it yourself the deadline is 31 October.

A TFN and an ABN are not the same thing

This one catches a lot of newcomers, so it is worth being clear.

A TFN is your personal tax number as an employee. Your employer takes tax out of your pay for you, pays your superannuation on top of your wage, and you are covered by minimum wage rules.

An ABN, or Australian Business Number, is for people who work for themselves. With an ABN you are a contractor running your own small business. Nobody withholds tax for you, nobody pays your super, and minimum wage does not apply the same way.

Some job ads, especially in delivery, cleaning and trades, ask you to "get an ABN" before you can start. That is not a formality. It changes what you are owed. Sometimes it is genuine self-employment, and sometimes it is a way to avoid paying an employee properly, which the ATO and the Fair Work Ombudsman both have guidance on.

If you are being told to get an ABN for what looks like a normal job with set hours and a supervisor, check ato.gov.au or the Fair Work Ombudsman before you agree. Getting a TFN never costs you anything and never changes your rights at work.

Watch out for paid TFN services

Applying for a TFN is free, always. There are websites that offer to apply on your behalf for a fee, and some are designed to look official. They are not the ATO, and some are outright scams collecting passport details.

The real application only ever happens on ato.gov.au. If a site asks for a payment, a gift card, or a fee to "speed up" your application, close it. The ATO will also never contact you demanding immediate payment or threatening arrest, which is a common scam aimed at newcomers. You can check and report scams on Scamwatch.

A note on tax while you wait

You are allowed to start work before your TFN arrives. Tell your employer that you have applied. You then have 28 days to give them the number. If those 28 days pass without it, tax is taken from your pay at the top rate until you provide it. That extra tax comes back to you later, but it is easier to just apply early.

A TFN is one of those small tasks that unlocks the bigger ones. Once you have it, starting a job and getting paid the right way both become simple.

Official sources

Australian Taxation Office: apply for a TFN for free, plus TFN declarations, tax returns and working holiday maker tax.
myGov: link your ATO account to find your TFN, see your income statements and lodge your tax return.
Fair Work Ombudsman: pay rates, workplace rights and the difference between an employee and a contractor.
Department of Home Affairs: your visa conditions, including work rights, which you can check with VEVO.
Scamwatch: how to spot and report scams, including fake tax office calls and messages.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Tax File Number?: A TFN is a unique number the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) gives you for tax and superannuation. You keep the same number for life, even if you change jobs, address or visa. You give it to your employer, your bank and your super fund so they can report your income and tax correctly.
Is a TFN free?: Yes. Applying for a TFN is completely free through the Australian Taxation Office at ato.gov.au. There is no fee to apply, to speed it up or to find a lost number. If a website asks you to pay, it is not the official service, and it may be a scam collecting your passport details.
When can I apply for a TFN?: You can apply once you are in Australia and hold an eligible visa, such as one with work rights, a student visa or a permanent visa. People with a foreign passport apply online through the ATO for free. Your visa is checked automatically, so there is nothing to upload, and the TFN is posted to your Australian address.
How long does it take to get a TFN?: Allow up to 28 days. The ATO says that is how long it can take to post your TFN to your Australian address after you apply. You can start work before it arrives by telling your employer you have applied, so apply in your first days in Australia rather than waiting for a job offer.
Can I work in Australia without a TFN?: Yes, for a short time. You can start a job while your TFN is on the way, but you must give it to your employer within 28 days. If you do not, tax is taken from your pay at the highest rate until you provide it. You get the extra tax back later through your tax return.
How do I get a TFN on a working holiday visa?: The same way as everyone else, through the free online application on the ATO website once you are in Australia. Your visa is checked automatically, so there is nothing to upload. Employers of working holiday makers use a separate tax rate, which is why giving them your TFN early matters.
Can international students get a Tax File Number?: Yes. If you hold a student visa with work rights you can apply online through the ATO as soon as you arrive, for free. You need it before your first payday, not before you start looking for work.
Can I apply for a TFN before arriving in Australia?: Generally no. The standard online application for foreign passport holders is for people already in Australia with a valid visa, and the TFN is posted to an Australian address. Apply in your first days here instead. You can still start work while it arrives, as long as you give the number to your employer within 28 days.
What happens if I lose my TFN?: You do not need to apply again, because the number is yours for life. Find it in your myGov account linked to the ATO, on an old payslip or tax return, or by phoning the ATO to confirm your identity.
Is a "TFN number" the same as a Tax File Number?: Yes. TFN just stands for Tax File Number, so "TFN number" says the same thing twice. You will also see it written as tax file no, taxation file number, or simply tax number. There is only one number and one free application.
What is the difference between a TFN and an ABN?: A TFN is your personal tax number as an employee. An ABN is a business number for people who work for themselves. If a job asks you to get an ABN to be paid, you would be treated as a contractor rather than an employee, which changes your pay, tax and superannuation. Check with the ATO or Fair Work before agreeing.