Applying for an Australian Tax File Number (TFN) is free. If you have had a TFN before, find your existing number instead of applying again.
This guide is for New Zealand citizens getting ready to work in Australia. Reviewed November 2026.
Do New Zealanders need an Australian TFN?
Your TFN is your personal reference for Australian tax and super. Your New Zealand IRD number does not replace it. If you are starting work in Australia, organise your TFN and complete your employer’s tax paperwork.
Start with the correct application route
How you apply depends on your circumstances. Use the official myGov guide to getting or finding a TFN to reach the appropriate ATO application. Check the requirements before submitting; an application option for Australian citizens may not be the right route for a New Zealand passport holder.
Can I apply before arriving in Australia?
The ATO’s online route for eligible foreign passport holders requires you to be in Australia with an appropriate visa linked to your passport. Prepare your documents before leaving NZ, then check the ATO’s foreign-passport TFN application requirements after you arrive. Different application options apply in other circumstances.
Can I start work while waiting for my TFN?
If you have applied for a TFN or made an enquiry, indicate that on your TFN declaration. You generally have 28 days to give it to your employer. Higher withholding may apply after that period unless the ATO directs otherwise. Keep your employer informed.
If you have worked in Australia before
You only need to apply once. If you have linked the ATO to myGov, sign in, select the Australian Taxation Office and choose “Find my TFN”. The myGov guide also links to other recovery options if you cannot access it online.
Keep your TFN secure
Use official government services and keep a secure copy of your records. Do not put your TFN in public messages or send it through a general website enquiry form. Provide it to your employer using their secure process.
What should you organise alongside your TFN?
Check your bank account details for wages, your employer’s super choice paperwork and the records you will need for your first Australian tax return. A TFN does not, by itself, determine your tax residency.
Use our free moving from NZ to Australia checklist to see the wider setup steps.
Want the setup topics in one place?
The $49.95 NZ to AU Starter Kit brings together preparation, mobile, banking, TFN, Medicare, private health and super guidance in one online reference. The fee is for the guide, not a government TFN application charge.
Explore the Starter Kit · Ask about personalised tax support
General information only. Check the current official requirements for your circumstances.
About NZ to AU
NZ to AU was founded by Dion, a Chartered Accountant, to help New Zealand citizens get established in Australia. Learn about Dion and NZ to AU.
