How to Apply for a Tax File Number as an Australian Resident
Apply for your first Australian tax file number for free. Australian residents can use the ATO route that matches their identity documents, including Digital ID, Australia Post or a paper application.
AU Australia
Taxes & Money ~ 7 min read
7 FAQ
Updated 2026-10-02
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Applying for a tax file number (TFN) is free. If you are an Australian citizen aged 15 or older with an Australian passport, you can apply online using a Digital ID such as myID. Other Australian residents for tax purposes can use the Australian resident application process, including identity verification at a participating Australia Post outlet, or the paper NAT 1432 form if they cannot apply through the available online process. The ATO says you should receive your TFN within 28 days after it receives your completed application and required documents.
What you need
- Use the application route that matches your circumstances. Australian citizens aged 15 or older with an Australian passport can apply online using a Digital ID such as myID.
- If using the Australian residents application, be an Australian resident for the purposes of that ATO process and provide the required proof of identity.
- If using the Australia Post route, complete the application process and attend a participating Australia Post retail outlet with the required current original identity documents.
- If you cannot use the available online or Australia Post process, you can use the paper Tax file number – application or enquiry for individuals (NAT 1432) where applicable.
- Do not apply for another TFN if you already have one. The ATO issues one TFN to an individual for life.
Eligibility
This procedure is for a person obtaining a TFN through the Australian resident routes. The ATO describes Australian residents for the paper NAT 1432 process as people who were born in Australia, have taken out Australian citizenship, or are Australian residents for tax purposes. Australian citizens aged at least 15 who have an Australian passport have a separate online route using a Digital ID such as myID. Permanent migrants and temporary visitors with eligible visas have a separate ATO application route and should not assume the Australian resident route is the correct application merely because they may be residents for tax purposes.
How to do it
- First check whether you already have a TFN. The ATO issues only one TFN to you for life.
- Choose the correct application route. If you are an Australian citizen aged 15 or older with an Australian passport, you can apply online using a Digital ID such as myID.
- If you need the Australian residents application route, prepare the identity documents required for that process.
- Where using the Australia Post route, complete the application process and follow the instructions to verify your identity at a participating Australia Post retail outlet using your current original identity documents.
- If you cannot apply through the available online process, use the paper Tax file number – application or enquiry for individuals (NAT 1432) where applicable and follow the ATO instructions for providing proof of identity.
- Keep your application receipt or reference information and wait for the ATO to process the application.
- Allow up to 28 days after the ATO receives your completed application and required documents. Do not submit another application while waiting.
- If you have not received your TFN after 28 days, contact the ATO.
- When you receive your TFN, keep it secure. You will use the same TFN throughout your life even if you change jobs, change your name or move.
Which TFN application route should you use?
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) provides different TFN application routes depending on your circumstances and identity documents. Applying for a TFN is free.
If you are an Australian citizen aged 15 or older and have an Australian passport, the ATO allows you to apply online using a Digital ID such as myID.
Australian residents who do not use that passport-based online route can use the Australian residents TFN application process. Depending on your circumstances, this can involve identity verification at a participating Australia Post retail outlet or a paper application.
This page is specifically about the Australian resident application routes. If you are a permanent migrant or temporary visitor with an eligible visa, the ATO provides a different application process. The separate Helpydo guide explains how to apply for a TFN as a migrant or temporary visa holder.
Who can use the Australian resident TFN application?
For the ATO's paper NAT 1432 process, Australian residents include people who:
- were born in Australia
- have taken out Australian citizenship
- are an Australian resident for tax purposes.
Tax residency is not necessarily the same as citizenship, permanent residency or immigration status. The ATO uses tax residency rules for tax purposes.
However, the correct TFN application channel also depends on your circumstances. For example, permanent migrants and temporary visitors in Australia with an eligible work-rights visa use the ATO's permanent migrant and temporary visitor application route. Do not select a route solely from the phrase 'resident for tax purposes' without checking the ATO's application categories.
Can you apply for a TFN completely online?
If you are an Australian citizen, at least 15 years old and have an Australian passport, you can apply online using a Digital ID such as myID.
This is the ATO's dedicated online route for Australian citizens who meet those conditions. If you do not meet them, use the Australian resident process appropriate to your identity documents rather than trying to use an ineligible online pathway.
How does the Australia Post TFN application work?
The Australian resident process includes an Australia Post option for people who can attend an interview at a participating Australia Post retail outlet and present the required current original identity documents.
Complete the relevant application process first and follow its instructions for identity verification. Your identity must be verified as required before the application can proceed through this route.
Bring the original identity documents required by the application. Do not assume a photocopy or an expired document will satisfy a requirement that calls for a current original document.
What if you cannot apply online?
If you cannot use the available online process, the ATO provides the Tax file number – application or enquiry for individuals (NAT 1432) paper form for applicable Australian resident applicants.
The NAT 1432 instructions explain how to complete the form and which proof-of-identity documents are acceptable. Follow those instructions carefully because an incomplete application or missing identity evidence can delay processing.
What identity documents do you need?
The proof-of-identity requirements depend on the application route you use. For the Australia Post route, you must be able to attend a participating retail outlet and present the required current original identity documents. The paper NAT 1432 process has its own proof-of-identity instructions and acceptable document requirements.
For the passport-based online route, eligibility includes being an Australian citizen aged at least 15 and having an Australian passport, together with the Digital ID requirements for the service.
Use the current ATO instructions for your selected route rather than sending identity documents based on a different TFN application category.
How long does it take to get your TFN?
The ATO says you should receive your TFN within 28 days after it receives your completed application and required documents.
The 28-day period is tied to the ATO receiving the completed application and required documents. If an application route requires identity verification or supporting documents, failing to complete that part can prevent or delay processing.
The ATO specifically advises applicants not to lodge another application while waiting, because doing so can cause delays. If you have not received your TFN after 28 days, contact the ATO.
Check whether you already have a TFN before applying
A TFN is a unique number issued to you by the ATO. You keep the same TFN for life, even if you change jobs, change your name or move.
If you previously had a TFN but cannot find it, do not apply for a new one. Check previous ATO correspondence or other records identified by the ATO and use the ATO's lost or stolen TFN process if necessary.
What do you do after receiving your TFN?
Keep your TFN secure. It forms part of your tax and superannuation records and can be used in identity crime if it falls into the wrong hands.
When you start work, your employer may ask you to complete a Tax file number declaration so the correct withholding arrangements can be applied. Your TFN is also used for your dealings with the Australian tax and super systems.
If you later lodge your own Australian individual income tax return, see how to lodge an individual tax return online with myTax. If you discover an error after lodging, the separate guide explains how to amend an Australian tax return.
What mistakes should you avoid?
- Do not submit another application while waiting for an existing TFN application to be processed.
- Do not apply for a new TFN if you were issued one previously. Your TFN remains yours for life.
- Use the application category that matches your circumstances rather than assuming all Australian residents use the same channel.
- Complete any required identity-verification step. An application that requires Australia Post identity verification is not complete simply because the initial application details were entered.
- Follow the proof-of-identity instructions for the specific application route you use.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to apply for a Tax File Number in Australia?
Yes. The Australian Taxation Office states that applying for a TFN is free.
Can an Australian resident apply for a TFN online?
Australian citizens aged 15 or older who have an Australian passport can apply online using a Digital ID such as myID. Other Australian resident applicants should use the ATO application route that matches their circumstances and identity documents.
How long does it take to receive a TFN?
The ATO says you should receive your TFN within 28 days after it receives your completed application and required documents. If it has not arrived after 28 days, contact the ATO rather than submitting another application.
Can I apply for another TFN if I lost my old one?
No. The ATO issues one TFN to you for life. If you cannot find an existing TFN, use the ATO's options for locating or recovering it rather than applying for a new number.
Can I apply for a TFN through Australia Post?
Yes, the Australian resident process includes an Australia Post route if you can attend a participating retail outlet and present the required current original identity documents.
What form can I use if I cannot apply online?
Where applicable, Australian residents can use the paper Tax file number – application or enquiry for individuals (NAT 1432) and follow its proof-of-identity instructions.
Is Australian tax residency the same as immigration residency?
No. Tax residency is determined under Australia's tax rules and is not the same as citizenship or immigration status. The correct TFN application route also depends on your circumstances, so permanent migrants and temporary visitors should use the ATO route provided for them.
Official sources
Australian Taxation Office - Apply for a TFNAustralian Taxation Office - Australian residents TFN applicationAustralian Taxation Office - TFN application or enquiry for individuals instructionsAustralian Taxation Office - Permanent migrants and temporary visitors TFN applicationRelated procedures
Useful next steps and closely related guides for Australia.
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