Tax Return for International Students in Australia

You’ve found a job and been working hard in Australia. Now it’s time to tell the ATO about it. Good news: lodging your first tax return doesn’t have to be complicated, and depending on how much tax you’ve paid, you might even get some money back. Got a question we haven’t covered? Our FAQs have your back.

The deadline: if you’re lodging yourself, it’s 31 October. Let’s get it done.

Step 1: Gather your gear

Before you start, you’ll need:

• A Tax File Number (TFN): your personal tax ID when working in Australia. Don’t have one? Read our TFN guide
• A myGov account: myGov is the Australian Government’s online portal where you can access services like Medicare, Centrelink and the ATO in one place. You’ll need to create a free account at my.gov.au and link it to the ATO to lodge your tax return online.
• Your bank details, so the ATO knows where to send any tax refund.

Step 2: Find your income statement

Think of it as your year at work, in one tidy summary. It shows what you earned and the tax your employer already paid.

• Log in to myGov and open the ATO
• Go to Tax > Income and deductions > Income statements
• Wait for it to say “tax ready”, which means your employer has finished their part
• Double check the numbers against your payslips

Most of it pre-fills for you. The ATO recommends waiting until an income statement shows “Tax ready”.

Have more than one job? Make sure you check the income from every employer before lodging.

Step 3: Check your tax residency

This one matters. It decides how much tax you pay.

Studying in Australia for six months or more doesn’t automatically make you a tax resident. Your circumstances matter, so check the ATO’s tax residency guidance before lodging.

Step 4: Claim what’s yours

You can only claim costs that helped you earn your income. Keep your receipts. Future you will say thanks.

Remember, you can only claim expenses you paid for yourself that are directly related to earning your income. Keep records to back up your claims. Not sure? Ask the ATO or a registered tax agent.

Step 5: Lodge it

• Lodge online through myGov, or use a registered tax agent
• Agents may offer extra time, but you generally need to sign up by 31 October
• The ATO usually processes online tax returns within around two weeks, although some take longer. Depending on how much tax you’ve already paid, you could receive a refund or have tax left to pay.

Psst, your super is still yours

If you’re eligible, your employer pays super into a retirement savings account for you. And that money doesn’t just disappear when you leave Australia.
If you’ve worked in Australia on an eligible temporary visa, you may be able to claim your super back through a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) once you’ve left Australia and your visa has expired or been cancelled. Tax applies to these payments.
Find out more in our super guide.

Quick FAQs

I didn’t earn much. Do I still need to lodge?

Maybe! If tax was taken from your pay, you may need to lodge a tax return and could be entitled to a refund. If you don’t need to lodge, you may still need to let the ATO know by submitting a non-lodgment advice.

Can I lodge from overseas?

Yes! You can access myGov from overseas but make sure you can still sign in and receive any verification codes. It’s worth checking your account before leaving Australia.

I think I got something wrong. Now what?

Don’t panic. If you’ve already lodged your return and spotted a mistake, you can usually request an amendment through the ATO’s online services.

Do International students need to pay tax in australia?

Yes, if you’re an international student working in Australia, you may need to pay income tax. How much you pay depends on your earnings and whether you’re considered an Australian resident for tax purposes. Having a student visa doesn’t automatically determine your tax residency.

Tax done. What’s next?

Tax is one box ticked. Our International Student Checklist takes you through the rest, from first week to feeling at home.

General information only, not tax advice. Check ato.gov.au or speak to a registered tax agent.