If you have just moved to Australia and intend to work you need to apply for an Australian Tax file number. Well I am not sure its a requirement but if you don't I think you will be on some kind of emergency number and you will probably pay a lot more tax.
- Direct link to apply for tax file number for Foreign passport holders, permanent migrants and temporary visitors
https://iar.ato.gov.au/IARWeb/default.aspx?pid=4&sid=1&outcome=1
- Link to more information about Tax file number including links to apply for it
https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Tax-file-number/
Once you have applied it can take up to 28 days for the number to arrive, although myn turned up in about 6 days. You can then register with the Australian Tax Office (ATO) but rather than going direct to the ato website I would register via the mygov (my.gov.au) website. This is an Australian government portal for all government online services such as Australian JobSearch, Australian Taxation Office(ato), Centrelink, Child Support etc....
Registering for a MyGov account is a simple case of entering your name and email details and then confirming via the link sent to you email address.
Once you have a mygov account you can then link to the government services such as the ATO service. To do this simply click on the services tab and select Australian Tax Office
You will then be asked if you have an ATO account or not, or if you have a linking code.
If you have an ato account already choose that option. If not you need to select that you don't and on the next screen enter your TFN number
... but you will probably get the following error as you have not confirmed your identity yet
Simply ring the number on the message i.e. 132861 with your passport, medicare card to hand and explain you are trying to link your mygov to your ato etc. Once you get off the phone your ATO account will be setup and linked to your mygov portal.
When I rang the guy was very helpful, confirmed my identity and then gave me a linking code. Also wait on the line while i entered it. To do this simply return to the previous screen and select i have a linking code.
Once done your ato account will be created and linked to you mygov account
You can now check you Australian tax office account and fill in you tax return if required, check here if your not sure if you need to fill in a tax return.
Tip: Just a quick tip if you are still in the UK and trying to find out what your tax liabilities are please note this is much easier to do when your here so please don't sign up to anything until you have got here and done some research. I was introduced to a tax specialist via one of these moving to oz shows and was quoted $1000 for them to complete my tax return in Australia. Recently went to HandR Block who are a global accountancy across Australia, they seem to be like a government tax service but think they are independent. Anyway i email them and arranged a free 10 minute chat. There charge for filling the tax return in is $150 and have heard nothing but good things about them. Also here to find out how you calculate if you need to fill in a tax return or not
