How to Apply for a Tax File Number (TFN) in Australia

If you’ve ever tried to open a bank account, start a job, or lodge a tax return in Australia, you’ve almost certainly been asked for one number: your Tax File Number (TFN). The application process looks simple on paper—but the path you take depends entirely on whether you’re a resident, a minor, or living overseas.

Cost to apply for a TFN: Free · Standard processing time (online, resident): Immediately or within a few minutes · Minimum age for online application (resident): 15 years old · Official issuing authority: Australian Taxation Office (ATO)

Key facts at a glance

Six key details define the TFN application landscape, from cost to where the form lands.

How can I apply for a tax file number?

The answer depends on your age and residency. The ATO offers two main pathways: a fully digital process for residents aged 15 and over, and a paper-based form for everyone else. Both are free.

What is a Tax File Number?

• A Tax File Number (TFN) is a unique nine-digit identifier issued by the ATO for tax and superannuation purposes.
• It is required to work in Australia, lodge a tax return, access government benefits, or earn investment income (Australian Taxation Office (official issuer)).

Who needs a TFN in Australia?

• Any individual who works, studies, or files a tax return in Australia needs a TFN.
• Non-residents can apply for a TFN but must follow a different process (Australian Taxation Office (official issuer)).

Bottom line: The fastest TFN application is online with myID for residents 15 and over. Paper applicants (under 15, non-residents) should allow up to 28 days for processing.

Who is eligible for a TFN?

Eligibility splits into two broad groups: residents and non-residents. The ATO defines residency based on a mix of physical presence, visa type, and tax status.

Eligibility for Australian residents

• Australian citizens, permanent residents, and certain temporary visa holders who are in Australia can apply online or by paper.
• Residents applying by paper use form NAT 1432 (Australian Taxation Office (instruction page)).

Eligibility for foreign passport holders and temporary visitors

• Non-residents can apply for a TFN but must use the paper form and provide certified copies of identity documents.
• International students already in Australia can use the online myID method if they meet the age and identity requirements (Australian Taxation Office (official issuer)).

The implication: Residency is the single biggest factor in determining your application speed. Online is almost instant; paper applicants face a slower, but still free, process.

How do I apply for TFN outside Australia?

If you’re living overseas and need a TFN — for example, to receive Australian-sourced income — you cannot use the online method. The ATO requires a paper application from outside Australia.

Online application for people outside Australia

• There is no online application option for non-residents. The myID system is only available to people with a valid Australian visa and identity documents issued in Australia.
• Some third-party guides report that a paper form is the only route for overseas applicants (One Click Life (third-party guide)).

Paper application for non-residents

• Obtain the correct paper form (NAT 1432 for individuals) from the ATO website or by calling 1300 720 092.
• Send the completed form with certified copies of identification to the ATO’s postal address: PO Box 9942, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039 (Australian Taxation Office (instruction page)).
• Processing times for overseas applications are not guaranteed and can vary significantly.

The catch: Without a digital identity, you lose the speed advantage. Plan for weeks, not minutes.

How do I find my tax file number?

If you already have a TFN but can’t locate it, the ATO provides several ways to retrieve it. Most people can find it in minutes without a phone call.

Check your myGov account

• Log in to myGov and link your account to the ATO. Once linked, your TFN will appear under “Tax” or “Profile” (myGov (official digital identity portal)).

Check your ATO correspondence

• Your TFN is printed on payslips, tax return notices of assessment, and any letters from the ATO.

Contact the ATO for a lost TFN

• Call the ATO on 13 28 61 (within Australia) and verify your identity. They can reissue your TFN or confirm it over the phone.

Why this matters: Losing your TFN doesn’t mean reapplying. The ATO keeps your number for life. Recovery takes minutes if you have digital access.

Do I have to do an Australian tax return if I live overseas?

Living overseas does not automatically make you a non-resident for tax purposes. The ATO looks at a range of factors, including where you live, where your family is, and how often you return.

Living overseas and remaining an Australian tax resident

• If you maintain ties like property, bank accounts, or family in Australia, you may still be considered a resident for tax purposes even while abroad.
• Residents must lodge an Australian tax return on their worldwide income (Australian Taxation Office (official issuer)).

When to lodge a tax return from overseas

• If you are a non-resident, you only need to lodge a return if you earned Australian-sourced income (e.g., rental property, dividends).
• Non-residents pay tax on Australian income but generally don’t pay Australian tax on foreign earnings.

The pattern: Your tax residency status — not your physical location — drives your filing obligation. A quick check on the ATO’s residency decision tool can save you penalties.

Step-by-step application process

This guide covers the three most common TFN application scenarios. Each pathway is free.

Scenario 1: Australian resident aged 15+ (online)

1. Create a myGov account at my.gov.au if you don’t already have one.
2. Set up a Digital Identity (myID) — this replaces face-to-face verification.
3. Link the ATO service to your myGov account.
4. Navigate to “Apply for a TFN” and complete the online form.
5. Your TFN is displayed instantly or within a few minutes (One Click Life (third-party guide)).

Scenario 2: Resident under 15, or anyone without digital identity

1. Download or order form NAT 1432 from the ATO website or call 1300 720 092.
2. Complete the form. If the applicant is under 18, a parent or guardian must sign.
3. Attach certified copies of identity documents (passport, birth certificate, etc.).
4. Mail to: PO Box 9942, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039.
5. Wait up to 28 days for processing (Australian Taxation Office (instruction page)).

Scenario 3: Non-resident / foreign applicant

1. Download form NAT 1432 from the ATO website.
2. Complete the form with your overseas address.
3. Provide certified copies of your passport and any other Australian identity documents you hold.
4. Mail to the ATO at PO Box 9942, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039.
5. Processing times are longer; the ATO does not publish a standard timeframe.

The trade-off: Online is near-instant but requires a myID and an Australian-issued passport or driver’s licence. Paper works for everyone but comes with a wait.

What’s clear and what’s not

Based on official ATO guidance and third-party resources, here’s the balance of certainty around TFN applications.

What this means: Most aspects of TFN application are well-documented, but applicants should verify their specific situation with the ATO.

Quotes from the ATO

“The fastest way to apply for a TFN is online using your Digital Identity (myID). You’ll get your TFN immediately or within a few minutes.”

Australian Taxation Office (official publication)

“If you have lost your TFN, the simplest way to retrieve it is through your myGov account linked to the ATO.”

myGov (official digital identity portal)

Summary

The TFN application system is free and straightforward, but the method you can use depends on your residency and age. The online myID pathway is a breakthrough for residents 15 and over — it eliminates paperwork and cuts waiting time to minutes. For everyone else, the paper process remains reliable but slow. For Australian residents living overseas, the real question isn’t how to apply for a TFN — it’s whether you’re still considered an Australian resident for tax purposes. The implication for temporary visa holders and international students: apply as soon as you arrive, because without a TFN you’ll be taxed at the top marginal rate. For non-residents, the choice is clear: gather your certified documents, mail them to the Moonee Ponds address, and plan for a wait of several weeks.

Both residents and non-residents can complete the process by applying for a TFN online through the myID system.

Frequently asked questions

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