Full details are in our tax rates and refunds guide.

How the working holiday tax rate works

Working holiday makers on a 417 or 462 visa are taxed under their own rates, not the normal resident rates. You do not get the tax-free threshold that Australian residents get, so tax is taken from your very first dollar. The upside is that 15% on the first $45,000 is lower than many people expect, and most backpackers earn well under that in a year.

The rates apply to the whole financial year, which runs from 1 July to 30 June. If you start work in March, your income from March to June counts towards the 2025-26 year, and anything you earn from 1 July counts towards 2026-27.

Make sure your employer is registered

Your employer can only take 15% if they are registered with the ATO as an employer of working holiday makers. If they are not registered, they should be taking tax at the foreign resident rate instead, which is higher. Look at your first payslip. If the tax taken looks much higher than 15%, ask your employer if they are registered. You can also search the ATO register online.

Why your TFN matters

Give every employer your Tax File Number (TFN) when you start. Without it, your employer has to take 45% from your pay. You can apply for a TFN online once you are in Australia with your visa, and it is free. Never pay anyone to get a TFN for you.

Super is separate from tax

Your employer also pays super (superannuation) on top of your wages into a super fund. This is not taken out of your pay. When you leave Australia for good, you can claim it back through a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP). Working holiday makers pay a higher tax rate on the DASP, but it is still money worth claiming.

Lodging your tax return

At the end of the financial year you usually need to lodge a tax return. Most working holiday makers can do this online through myGov linked to the ATO. Keep your payslips and your income statement from each employer. If too much tax was taken, you may get a refund. If too little was taken, you may owe some.

Quick checklist

• Get your TFN before your first shift.
• Check your first payslip shows tax at 15%.
• Keep every payslip in one folder or on your phone.
• Use the same super fund for every job.
• Lodge your tax return after 30 June, or before you leave Australia.

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Häufig gestellte Fragen

Do I pay less tax if I earn less? No. The 15% rate starts from your first dollar, because working holiday makers do not get the tax-free threshold. It only changes once your total income for the year passes $45,000.

Can I get a tax refund? Sometimes. If your employer took more tax than the working holiday rate, or you were taxed at 45% before you gave them your TFN, lodging a tax return can get some of that money back.

What if I have two jobs at once? That is fine. Give both employers your TFN. Your total income from all jobs is added together in your tax return.

Sources: ATO: Schedule 15 working holiday makers.