Claim your super & tax refund before you leave Australia

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Welcome. If you worked in Australia on a temporary visa, there is a very good chance you left money behind — and this guide exists to help you get it back.

▶️ 60 seconds: is some of that $21 billion yours?

My name is Bilal Jivraj. I am a Registered Tax Agent and the Director of ALITAX, and I have been helping people claim their Australian superannuation and tax refunds for more than ten years.

In that time I have seen the same thing happen again and again. Someone finishes their season, or finishes their studies, or their visa ends — and they fly home believing everything is finished. It usually is not. Their superannuation is still sitting in an Australian fund. Their final tax return was never lodged. A Medicare exemption they were entitled to was never claimed. Sometimes their employer never paid the right amount of super in the first place.

Most of them never find out. Not because they were careless — but because nobody ever explained it to them.

What you will find in this guide

• Whether you can claim — and what you may be owed in both super and tax
• Exactly how we work — every step, with our real documents shown to you
• What to do before you leave Australia, and what to do once you have gone
• Chapters for your situation — PALM scheme, working holiday, student, graduate, sponsored
• The mistakes that cost people money, and how to avoid them
• Real cases we have solved, so you can judge us on results rather than promises

My promise to you

You do not have to use ALITAX to benefit from this guide. Read it, learn from it, and if you decide to claim on your own or through another agent, I am glad you know what you are entitled to.

If you would like our help, the first step costs you nothing. At ALITAX we will check your super and your tax, and send you a free written estimate — what you are owed, what our fee would be, and what would reach your account. No obligation. You can take that estimate to any other agent and compare it.

How to use this guide

You do not need to read it end to end. Use the contents page to find your situation — your visa, your country, your question — or use the search box. Each chapter stands on its own.

If you are still in Australia, start with Departing Australia. If you have already left, start with Eligibility. If you came through the PALM scheme, go straight to the PALM Workers chapter.

Whatever you do — please do not leave your money in Australia. It is yours. You earned it.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

If you ask a search engine or an AI chatbot “how do I claim my DASP,” they will tell you it is easy — just fill in a form. That advice is not wrong, but it is incomplete, and acting on it alone is exactly why so many people face months of delays, rejections, or leave money behind. Here is the honest, complete picture.

First, the honest truth about speed

We will never pretend we can force the ATO to move faster — nobody can. The ATO applies the same processing service standard to everyone, whether you apply yourself or through an agent. There is no VIP queue.

Why AI and DIY guides fall short

General AI tools — and generic guides — do not have the one thing that actually matters here: real, current experience with each individual super fund. This is knowledge you only get from doing thousands of these claims. For example, we know:

• What each fund will ask for — before they ask — so we send it the first time
• Which documents each fund actually accepts — passport only, or also a national ID card; whether they need a certified bank statement or just ID
• How each fund wants documents delivered — some only by post, some by portal, and which ones we can persuade to accept email
• Where to actually send it — many funds’ correct DASP email addresses are not published anywhere public. An AI simply cannot know them. We do.

What our experience actually does for you

At ALITAX we handle the things you cannot from overseas

Once you have left Australia, you often cannot practically deal with the funds yourself — time zones, hold times, and international calls make it almost impossible. We act on your behalf:

• We run identity checks before lodgement so funds are far less likely to reject your claim
• We follow up and chase the fund regularly so your claim keeps moving
• At ALITAX we handle the complaints process if a fund is unreasonable — something you simply cannot do easily from another country

At ALITAX we find money you did not know about

This is where real expertise pays for itself many times over:

• Unpaid employer super: we check your employment periods against the super rate that applied each year, and can flag where an employer may not have paid the super you were owed.
• The Medicare levy: many people pay the 2% levy when they should be exempt, or fail to claim an exemption they are entitled to. At ALITAX, we check this for every client — it is money most people leave on the table.
• Lost and multiple accounts: we locate every account, including ATO-held super, so nothing is missed.

What our fee actually pays for

We are honest that we are not the cheapest — and here is exactly why. Our fee reflects a genuinely higher level of service:

• A regulated trust account that is regularly audited, so your money is handled properly and safely
• Fee from your refund where eligible — you are not out of pocket upfront
• 24/7 WhatsApp support — we make sure every super enquiry is answered, wherever you are in the world
• Years of fund-specific expertise that prevents the delays and rejections a cheaper or DIY route runs into

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Before we get into the visa details, here is exactly how we work — because you deserve to know the whole process before you trust anyone with your tax and super.

1. You start, and you get a portal

As soon as you fill out the form and complete your identity check, you are logged into your own secure client portal. From there you can see every step of your claim as it happens.

2. We review your tax and super at the ATO

We look at your tax and super with the ATO — including any previous tax returns that may need fixing or adjusting — so nothing is missed and everything is correct.

3. We send you a clear quote

We send you a written quote showing your total estimated tax refund and super refund, our fee, and exactly what you will receive after fees. No surprises.

4. You approve — twice

You can accept or reject the quote — it is completely up to you. Only once you accept do we ask you to sign your tax return electronically and complete your Claim My Super form. That is two separate approvals: first the quote, then the signed return. You are always in control.

5. At ALITAX we lodge immediately

As soon as your tax return is signed, we lodge it with the ATO straight away. The tax refund usually takes 7–10 days. We transfer your refund to you on the same day we receive it in our trust account — or within 1–2 days at most. At ALITAX we lodge your super application at the same time, so both are moving together.

6. Your super fund contacts you

Once we lodge the super application, your super fund will usually contact you within 5–7 days requesting certified copies of your identity and a bank statement. Some funds want documents by email, some by post, and some through their secure portal.

7. At ALITAX we see it through to the end

We make sure your money is received on time. Our fee covers both your tax refund and your super refund — we work with you until both are in your account. As a registered tax agent, we can only deduct our fee from your tax refund; your super refund is always paid to you in full, straight into your account by the super fund.

8. A refund policy that protects you

We also have a refund policy for real peace of mind: in most cases, if your refund does not come through us, our fee is refunded. And once your money arrives, if you are happy with how we looked after you, you are welcome to leave us a Google review — but only if you'd like to.

That's the whole process — transparent, in your control, and designed to protect you when you're far from Australia.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

This is the most important chapter in this book. It shows you exactly what we do — every stage, with real screenshots and real documents from an actual (sample) client file. Nothing hidden, nothing vague. Read this and you will know precisely what happens to your money and why our service is different.

It starts with the free estimate form. Then we verify who you are — this protects you from someone else claiming your money. We ask for two clear photos:

As a registered tax agent, we log in to the ATO tax agent portal and pull your complete record — every employer, every year, every super fund. This is the part no AI tool and no DIY process can do, because it requires registered agent access.

Alongside your income, we pull your total superannuation balance across every fund and every year:

Then we reconcile: were you actually paid the right super?

This is the step almost nobody else does. We cross-match your super against your earnings, year by year, to see whether your employer paid what they legally should have.

And we check every tax return

We review whether each return was lodged correctly — the right residency, all deductions you were entitled to, the Medicare levy exemption if you qualify, offsets, and whether any years are missing.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Now you see the numbers. Your quote arrives by email and as a PDF, showing your estimated super refund, your estimated tax refund, our fee, and exactly what is deducted from where.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

When you accept, we send your tax return and super application to sign electronically via Adobe Acrobat Sign. You are formally accepting our terms, and both you and we keep a signed copy.

Once you sign, you get your own secure client portal. You log in with your TFN and date of birth — never stored in plain text — and a six-digit code emailed to you.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Once we have prepared your tax return and your super application, we send them to you for signature through Adobe Acrobat Sign. It takes a few minutes, and you can do it on a phone or a computer.

▶️ Watch the full walkthrough — how to review and sign your ALITAX document, step by step.

How to review and sign your ALITAX document

You can also view this guide any time at alitax.com.au/how-to-sign.

Once you have signed, both you and ALITAX keep a copy, and your claim moves to lodgement. You can follow the progress in your client portal.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

At ALITAX we lodge your tax return and your DASP claim, and email you confirmation of each.

Your tax refund reaches our regulated NAB trust account in about 7–10 days. We take only the agreed fee and transfer the rest to you within 24–48 hours (international transfers may take 1–2 days longer). Then we send you a complete Refund Summary proving every step.

For super, we take no fee at all — it goes directly from the fund to your account. If a cheque comes to our office, we forward it to you by Australia Post express with a tracking number.

Throughout, your portal shows the live status of both refunds. When your super arrives, we simply ask for an honest Google review. We have over 150 genuine reviews across Google and other platforms, from more than a thousand tax clients and hundreds of DASP clients over 10+ years.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

By now you have seen exactly how we work. So here is the honest comparison people ask for: ALITAX vs AI vs doing it yourself vs other “express refund” companies. We will be fair to everyone — including where others might suit you.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

If you have just arrived in Australia on a temporary visa — student (500), 485 graduate, 482/457 sponsor, 417/462 working holiday, 403, or another temporary visa — the choices you make now will make claiming your tax and super much easier later. Here is what Bilal Jivraj strongly recommends you do from day one.

1. Open two or three bank accounts

Open accounts with two or three different banks (we explain why in the departing chapter). In short: when you leave, some banks close accounts quickly, but others keep them open longer — and you need at least one open account to receive your refunds.

2. Protect your credit rating

Do not take out many credit cards and fail to repay them — it damages your credit score. A poor score makes it very hard to buy a car or a house later. Keep your credit clean.

3. Get a small mobile plan

A small post-paid mobile plan, paid on time, helps build a good credit history — and keeps a number active for verification.

4. Get your TFN — and guard it

Apply for your Tax File Number (TFN) early. Never share it with anyone you do not completely trust — not even friends or family. You can safely share it with your employer and a reliable registered tax agent like ALITAX, who will never misuse your information.

5. Protect your passport number and date of birth too

Your passport number, date of birth and TFN together are exactly what identity thieves need. Guard all three carefully.

6. Do not work on an ABN unless you truly need to

Many employers ask you to work on an ABN — but on an ABN you get no sick leave, no annual leave, and no super. Avoid it unless you genuinely need to run your own business.

7. Get a driver’s licence — even a learner

Even if you do not drive, a learner or full driver’s licence is a valuable second ID for identity verification later. It is worth getting.

8. Create a myGov account

Set up myGov and link it to the ATO. It lets you track your tax, super, and Medicare information in one place.

9. Lodge a tax return every year

Lodge a return every financial year, even with little or no income. Remember: the Australian financial year is 1 July to 30 June — not January to December.

10. Keep to your visa conditions

Maintain all your visa conditions — working-hour limits (for example, student visa work-hour caps), health insurance (OSHC for students), and any other condition on your visa. Breaching a condition can affect your visa and future applications, so stay within the rules and keep records.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

When it is time to leave, a few practical steps make sure your tax and super refunds actually reach you — and are not lost because an account closed or a phone number went dead. Here is Bilal Jivraj’s departing checklist.

1. Keep your SIM card active

At ALITAX, we recommend keeping your Australian SIM card active — buy roaming for around 3 months so you keep receiving verification codes on your phone. Many banks, funds and the ATO send codes by SMS, and you need them to receive your refunds.

2. Keep your TFN active — and confidential

Keep your TFN active, and never share your personal details with anyone — except trusted people like us, so we can genuinely help you claim.

3. Keep a bank account open

If you can, visit your bank in person and ask them to keep your account open for 6–12 months even after your visa expires, so you have no trouble receiving your super and tax refunds.

4. Keep your driver’s licence active

Keep your driver’s licence valid for identity checks, in case you need to provide it to a third party — but keep it confidential.

5. Contact ALITAX — and get a free estimate

This is the big one. Contact us and we will honestly guide you through everything and send you a free tax summary showing what you are entitled to — super, unclaimed tax, and whether we can amend a prior return (for example by claiming a Medicare levy exemption) to get you the maximum refund.

Contact us before you leave Australia

This matters more than anything else on this page. Contact us before you leave. We know how to guide you properly to get your final tax return done, and to arrange your certification correctly while you are still here.

Two big reasons to reach us while you are still in Australia:

• It costs far less. Claiming your super and tax is much cheaper and easier while you are in Australia than once you are overseas.
• We can fix problems immediately. Issues like a name check or date-of-birth mismatch are simple to fix here, but become very problematic once you have left.

We provide a genuinely good service — but first, we need to be able to reach you, and you need to reach us. Get in touch before you go.

Our promise on fees

• Fee from refund — nothing upfront (or a guarantor where there is no refund; see the fees chapters)
• We may refund our fee, fully or partially, if we genuinely cannot progress your case and the fault is ours
• The free estimate is yours with no questions asked — even if you decide to use another agent, you can take our summary to compare, so you know you are not being tricked

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

▶️ PALM workers: your super + tax explained — what you may be able to claim.

This chapter is written specifically for PALM scheme workers — and for the employers, team leaders and community liaisons who support them. Everything here applies to workers from Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Nauru.

What a PALM worker can claim

If you came to Australia under the PALM scheme, you have almost certainly built up two separate amounts of money that belong to you:

• Your superannuation (DASP) — paid by your employer on top of your wages, claimable once you have left and your visa has ceased
• Your tax refund — from over-withheld tax on your wages, claimable through your final tax return

Most PALM workers are entitled to both. Many only ever claim one — or neither.

The Medicare levy exemption — the most commonly missed refund

This is the single biggest thing we find missing on PALM workers’ tax returns. Because you were on a temporary visa without full Medicare access, you may be entitled to a Medicare levy exemption — worth roughly 2% of your taxable income for each year you qualify.

Was your employer paying the right super?

We reconcile your super against your actual earnings, season by season. At the current 12% super guarantee rate, someone earning $45,000 in a season should have around $5,400 paid into super. If your balance does not match your work history, that is unpaid super you are owed — and we chase it.

Tax withheld above $45,000

We also check that tax was withheld correctly once your income passed $45,000, where the rate changes. Employers sometimes get this wrong, which can leave you with either a large refund owing or an unexpected bill. At ALITAX we find out which before anything is lodged.

The problems we see most with PALM workers

• Impersonation and identity theft — someone else claiming a worker’s refund using their TFN and date of birth
• Language barriers making fund letters and agent terms hard to understand
• Relying on a friend’s refund as a guide — every situation is different, and this is misleading
• Not feeling able to ask an employer about correct super and wages
• Multiple super accounts from different seasons and employers, quietly eaten by fees
• Claiming too early — leaving the final season’s contributions stranded

The timing that matters most

PALM seasons make timing critical. If you leave in May and claim your super in June, your April–May contributions may not have arrived yet. Once your account is closed by the DASP claim, those contributions bounce back to the employer, then to a default fund — and in many cases you cannot claim them.

Contact us before you fly home

It is far easier and cheaper to sort everything out while you are still in Australia. Before you leave we can certify your documents face-to-face (Melbourne or Tasmania), check your fund details match your passport exactly, confirm your final super has landed, and prepare your claim so it is ready to lodge the moment you are eligible.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Before anything else — are you actually eligible to claim a DASP? Here are the conditions.

You can claim if ALL of these are true

• You have left Australia
• Your temporary visa has ceased (expired, cancelled, or you have been granted a different visa)
• You are not an Australian citizen or New Zealand citizen

You CANNOT claim a DASP if

• You are still in Australia on an active visa
• You are an Australian or New Zealand citizen (NZ citizens transfer to KiwiSaver instead — see the NZ 444 chapter)
• You currently hold an active permanent resident visa and have no earlier temporary-visa super to claim (if you were on a temporary visa before your PR, you can usually still claim that super — see the note above)

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

This chapter summarises the official ATO rules for a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP), in plain language. Everything here reflects current ATO guidance — always confirm the latest at ato.gov.au (DASP).

Eligibility for DASP

According to the ATO, you can generally claim a DASP if all of the following apply:

• you accumulated super while working in Australia on a temporary resident visa under the Migration Act 1958 (excluding subclasses 405 and 410)
• your visa has ceased (expired or been cancelled)
• you have left Australia and do not hold any other active Australian visa
• you are not an Australian or New Zealand citizen (New Zealand citizens transfer super to New Zealand instead). Permanent residents can usually still claim super earned on a prior temporary visa

Source: ATO — Eligibility for DASP.

Locating your super

The ATO notes that if you worked for multiple employers you may have more than one super account. You can find your super using the DASP online application system (once eligible and after providing your TFN), through ATO online services / the ATO app (via myGov), or by phoning the ATO. The ATO advises checking with your employer that all contributions have been paid before you apply.

Source: ATO — Locating your super.

How to claim — ATO methods

The ATO provides three ways to apply:

• the DASP online application system (free) — for both fund-held and ATO-held super
• a paper form — form NAT 7204 for super held by a fund (sent to each fund), or NAT 74880 for ATO-held super (sent to the ATO)
• by authorising someone (such as a registered tax agent) to claim on your behalf

Source: ATO — How to claim your super; Authorising someone to claim.

Identity documents — the $5,000 rule (ATO)

The ATO advises that where your super is $5,000 or more, your fund may require certified copies of your identity documents, and paper applications may require a Certification of Immigration Status from Home Affairs (form 1194, which carries a fee). For balances under $5,000, you may be able to provide other evidence that you have left and your visa has ceased — ask your fund. The ATO stresses it is much easier to certify documents while still in Australia.

Source: ATO — Super value of $5,000 or more / less than $5,000.

How and when DASP is paid (ATO)

The ATO states your DASP is generally paid within 28 days of a complete application being received — longer if it is incomplete or extra documents are needed. There are three payment options: EFT to an Australian bank account, an Australian dollar cheque, or an international money transfer (not offered by all funds; for ATO-held super only EFT to an Australian account or a cheque is available).

Source: ATO — How and when DASP is paid.

How DASP is taxed (ATO rates)

A final DASP tax is withheld before payment. The ATO’s rates are:

Source: ATO — How DASP is taxed; DASP tax rates.

Don’t include DASP in your tax return (ATO)

Importantly, the ATO states a DASP does not form part of your assessable income. Because a final tax is already withheld, you do not include the DASP amount in your Australian tax return.

Source: ATO — Don’t include DASP in your tax return.

If you think the tax was withheld incorrectly (ATO)

If you believe your fund withheld the wrong amount, the ATO says to contact the fund and request a refund within the same financial year the DASP was paid. After year-end, or if the ATO paid the DASP, you can lodge a written refund request with the ATO. ALITAX can help you with this process.

Source: ATO — If you believe tax has been withheld incorrectly.

Returning to Australia later (ATO)

The ATO confirms that claiming a DASP will not affect future visa applications. If you later return permanently and your super was transferred to the ATO as former-temporary-resident unclaimed super, you can transfer it back to an Australian fund or, if eligible, have it paid to you — still treated as a DASP at the relevant DASP tax rate.

Source: ATO — Returning to Australia after claiming DASP.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Wherever you are from, and wherever you are now, the goal is the same: get every dollar of your super and tax back to you. We have clients in more than 40 countries, and we know the specific challenges each community faces — because we deal with them every single day.

🌴 Major PALM scheme countries

If you came to Australia through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, you worked hard — often in farming, meat processing or aged care — and you have super and tax waiting for you. Tap your country. Wherever you are, we get your money home to you.

🌏 Major South Asian countries

Workers from South Asia often face the toughest situations — ABN traps, cash work, scattered super and unpaid taxes. We have spent years untangling exactly these cases. Tap your country. We will tell you honestly where you stand and get you everything you are owed.

🌎 Major backpacker / working holiday countries

On a 417 or 462 visa, you paid the backpacker tax — and you may be owed a refund, plus your super. The rules change the moment your visa changes or your residency shifts. Tap your country. We work out the right rate, the right residency, and the right refund for you.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Here is what happens after you start your claim — a realistic timeline so you know what to expect at every step.

Week 1 — You start

You fill out the form and complete your identity check. We review your tax and super with the ATO, including any prior years. We send you a clear written quote.

Week 1–2 — You approve

You accept the quote. You sign your tax return electronically and complete the Claim My Super form. Two separate approvals — you are always in control.

Week 2–3 — Tax refund

At ALITAX we lodge your return with the ATO immediately. The tax refund usually takes 7–10 business days. We transfer your refund to you the same day we receive it in our trust account (or within 1–2 days).

Week 3–4 — Super fund contacts you

At ALITAX we lodge your DASP application at the same time as your tax return. Your super fund typically contacts you within 5–7 days requesting certified copies of your passport and a bank statement.

Week 4–8 — Super paid

Once the fund verifies your identity and documents, they release your super — generally 3–4 weeks after lodgement, paid directly to your bank account. ATO-held super can be faster with an Australian bank account.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

We are honest: no one can force the ATO or a super fund to break their standard processing times. But a huge amount of a claim’s speed is in our hands, not theirs — and this is where our experience makes a real difference.

Your super — we actively push it along

Once your DASP is lodged, we do not just wait. We call the super fund to check the status, find out exactly what is happening, and push them to move faster. If a fund does not respond in a reasonable time, we lodge a formal complaint and feedback form on your behalf — something you cannot easily do from overseas.

Your tax refund — stuck at the ATO?

Sometimes a tax refund is held by the ATO for an identity check before they release it. This is common for people who have left the country. ALITAX can help get it moving by verifying your identity properly.

How we verify your identity

We verify you by video call over Zoom or WhatsApp, and we collect a copy of your passport and visa for verification.

Please also be ready to provide a certified copy of your ID when needed — the next chapter, How Certification Works, explains exactly what certification is and how to get it right.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

If you are still in Australia or about to leave, these steps make your claim dramatically easier from overseas.

• Keep your Australian bank account open — it is the fastest way to be paid and avoids the cheque-only problem for ATO-held super
• Save your TFN — write it down from a payment summary or ATO letter
• Download your visa details from VEVO or ImmiAccount
• Get documents certified while you are still here — a pharmacist, GP or post office can do it in 5 minutes; from overseas it is harder
• Note your super fund names — check myGov (linked to ATO) or your super app
• Tell your employer your departure date so your final pay and payment summary are correct
• Contact us before you go — we can start preparing while you are still here

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

To claim your tax and super, a few pieces of information make everything smoother. Here’s where to find each one — and don’t worry if you’re missing some, because a big part of what we do is tracking these down for you.

Your Tax File Number (TFN)

Your TFN is issued when you first apply, and it’s the key the ATO and super funds use to identify you.

• It’s shown on any payment summary / income statement from your employer.
• It is generally not printed on your payslips — so don’t worry if you can’t see it there.
• It may also appear in old ATO letters or your myGov account.

Check if your TFN is correct

A TFN is a 9-digit number with a built-in check digit — a mathematical formula that catches typos and transposed numbers instantly. Type your TFN below to check if it is structurally valid (this runs entirely in your browser — nothing is sent anywhere):

Privacy: This check uses a mathematical formula (a weighted-sum check digit) that runs entirely on your device. Your TFN is never stored, sent, or logged anywhere. It only confirms the number is structurally valid — it does not confirm whether it has been issued to you or is active with the ATO.

Your Super Membership Number

This is the number your super fund uses for your account. You can usually find it:

• In your myGov account, linked to the ATO, which lists your super accounts
• In your super fund’s app or online portal
• On any letter or statement from your fund

Your Visa Copy

Your visa grant details confirm your visa type and when it ceased — important for both your tax residency and your DASP claim. You can get a copy from:

• Your visa grant notification letter (the email or letter you received when your visa was approved)
• VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) or the free myVEVO app from Home Affairs — you can check and email your visa details and conditions yourself
• Your ImmiAccount online, if you lodged there
• Your migration agent, if one arranged your visa

PALM scheme workers: your visa was arranged through your approved employer and the PALM programme, so your employer or the PALM scheme support service can often help you get your grant details. You can also use VEVO / myVEVO yourself, and if you don’t know your visa grant number, Home Affairs has a VEVO Request for Reference Number form to have it emailed to you.

Missing everything? We look up your full history

Here’s the reassuring part: even if you have almost nothing, we look up your entire past history — previous employers, super accounts, ATO records — to piece together your tax and super. Finding what you’ve lost is exactly what we do.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

As a registered tax agent, we are required to verify who you are before acting for you. This protects you and meets our obligations under the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) and anti-money-laundering rules. Here is what to expect — and why it matters.

Why we verify your identity

The TPB requires registered tax agents to take reasonable steps to confirm a client’s identity (a “proof of identity” or client verification process). This prevents fraud, tax identity theft, and someone claiming a refund or super in your name. If we did not verify you properly, your money could be at risk.

How we verify you (“verify my identity”)

• Video call over Zoom or WhatsApp, so we can see you and match you to your ID
• A copy of your passport (photo page)
• A copy of your visa or visa grant details
• Where a fund requires it, a certified copy of your ID and sometimes a photo of you holding your ID
• Confirmation of your details — full name, date of birth, TFN and address

Your information is protected

We keep your identity documents confidential, use them only for your claim, and never share them without your consent. Please also protect your own details — see the Protect Your TFN chapter.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

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🔒 How to Certify Your Passport

Six steps, so your super fund accepts it the first time. This video is not public yet — enter the access code to watch it.

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Before any super fund releases your money, they must confirm it is really you. You do this with a certified copy of your passport (and sometimes other ID). Getting this right the first time is the single biggest thing you can do to avoid delays.

What a certified copy must have

The certifier looks at your original document, then endorses the photocopy — ideally with a stamp — that includes all of the following:

• The wording “I certify this to be a true copy of the original document”
• The date it was sighted
• The certifier’s signature
• The certifier’s printed name and their position (e.g. Public Notary, Justice of the Peace, Australian Consulate official)

What makes certification INCORRECT

Funds reject certifications constantly for small errors. It is incorrect if:

• The date is missing
• Any element is missing — no signature, no printed name, or no stated position
• It was certified by someone not approved for your fund (for example a lawyer, where the fund only accepts specific certifiers) — always check who your fund accepts
• The wording isn’t a proper true-copy certification

Some funds want a “hold your ID” photo

In addition to a certified copy, some super funds now ask you to send a photo of yourself holding your passport or ID next to your face — a selfie-style verification — to prove the document belongs to you. If your fund asks for this, take a clear, well-lit photo where both your face and the ID details are readable.

Who can certify — in Australia

Commonly accepted certifiers in Australia include a pharmacist, a GP (doctor), an accountant (CPA, CA or IPA member), a Justice of the Peace, a police officer, a bank manager, and Australia Post (many post offices offer a document certification service).

Who can certify — outside Australia

An Australian Consulate or Embassy, a public notary, or a Justice of the Peace. Here is an example of an Australian Embassy certification:

We can certify for you too

As a Registered Tax Agent, we prepare and stamp statutory declarations and can help with certification — including witnessing remotely by audio-visual (video) link under the Commonwealth remote witnessing rules. If you’d prefer, you can also come to us in person. This is our official stamp:

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

When you claim your DASP through us, we act as your authorised intermediary — a registered tax agent submitting the claim on your behalf. This is a formal role recognised by the ATO, and it makes the whole process smoother and safer for you.

What a DASP intermediary is

Registered tax practitioners who hold a DASP agreement with the ATO are known as DASP intermediaries. They can use the DASP online intermediary application system to submit claims for their clients. When we do this for you, our name and contact details appear on the claim the fund receives, so the fund knows we are acting for you.

Source: ATO — Role of an intermediary to claim DASP.

Why claiming through an intermediary helps

According to the ATO, when a claim is submitted through the DASP online system:

• Your immigration, visa and residency status is already checked online with the Department of Home Affairs — so it does not need to be separately verified
• If your benefit is under $5,000, the additional AML/CTF client-identification procedures are not required for that claim
• The visa information in the application (including working holiday maker visa details) helps determine the correct DASP tax rate

Source: ATO — Online claims and DASP intermediaries.

The Limited Letter of Authority you sign

To act as your intermediary, we ask you to sign a Limited Letter of Authority. This is an important protection for you — it defines exactly what we can and cannot do. In plain terms, it authorises us to:

• Communicate with your super fund, the ATO and relevant organisations about your account and DASP claim
• Request and receive information — membership, balance, contributions, eligibility, identity requirements, outstanding documents, and payment status
• Prepare, submit and follow up your DASP application and supporting documents
• Provide the identification, immigration and bank details you supply, for the purpose of your claim
• Receive correspondence and updates about your account and application

The authority lasts only until your DASP matter is complete, and you can revoke it at any time in writing. You remain responsible for reviewing and approving the information in your application — we never lodge without your approval.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

When your super and tax refund are released, they have to be paid somewhere. There are three options, and the one you use affects how fast you get your money.

Option 1 — Australian bank account (fastest)

If you still have an open Australian account, this is quickest — a domestic transfer with no international fees. You provide your account name, BSB (6 digits), account number, and bank name.

Option 2 — International bank account

If you have closed your Australian account, your fund can pay overseas. Get the details exactly right — a bounced transfer from a wrong SWIFT code or mismatched name can cost weeks. This is the kind of form you will complete:

Option 3 — Payment by cheque

If you have no Australian and no international bank account — or your super is held by the ATO rather than a fund — payment is usually made only by cheque, posted to your address. This is what an official ATO cheque looks like:

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Before anything is lodged, we send you a clear estimate so you know exactly what you are owed and what you will receive after our fee. Here is what that looks like:

What the estimate shows

• Your super refund (DASP) — the amount after DASP tax, with your total balance shown
• Your tax refund estimated from the ATO
• The ALITAX fee — deducted only from your tax refund
• What you will actually receive

Your super balance shown is a guide — check your own super app for the live figure, as our portal isn’t always 100% exact. Super is generally paid 3–4 weeks after lodgement, into a bank account in your name.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

We believe you should know exactly how our fee works before you commit to anything. Here it is, in full — simple and transparent.

The default: fee from your tax refund

Our standard arrangement is fee from refund. Your tax refund is paid into our regulated NAB trust account — a dedicated, separate bank account used only for client refunds, as required by the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB). We deduct only the agreed fee, then transfer the remainder to you — usually the same day we receive it, or within 1–2 days. The trust account is reconciled and audited regularly.

What if there is no refund, or the refund is less than our fee?

This is the key rule:

• If there is no tax refund at all, our fee cannot come from a refund. The full fee is payable upfront before we begin work.
• If there is a partial refund that does not cover our full fee, we take what the refund covers — and the remaining balance is payable upfront.

Your super is never touched

Your DASP (super) is always paid directly to you in full by your fund. By law, a registered tax agent can only deduct fees from your tax refund — never from your super. We do not receive it, we do not touch it.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

We offer flexible ways to pay our fee, so you can choose what suits your situation. Here are the options — and the clear rule on what happens if your refund does not cover everything.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

This is a heartfelt, honest request — please read it. Your Tax File Number (TFN) is not a joke, and protecting it protects you.

Never hand your TFN around

Your TFN is not something to give to every website or every person. If someone has your TFN, they can create a fake myGov account and claim a refund in your name — without you ever knowing. At ALITAX we have seen it happen: people find their refund already claimed by someone else.

And not to just any agent, either

Even among registered agents, be careful. At ALITAX we have seen many operators promise “express tax refunds” and then take some or all of your money without your knowledge. Being registered is not enough on its own — check their reviews, and make sure they show you everything before lodging.

Please don’t scatter your details across 3 or 4 websites

Our reviews are hard-earned — and so is your trust

We have not bought or faked our reviews. They are hard-earned over years of looking after people properly. That is exactly why we ask you to trust the process and be patient with us — we have earned it, and we intend to keep earning it with your claim too.

At ALITAX we never take a cent without your permission

Here is our promise, in plain terms: we provide you a full summary of every single cent — what you are owed, what our agreed fee is, and what you will receive. At ALITAX we never take a single cent without your permission or beyond your agreed fee.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

You are about to trust someone with your tax file number, your identity, and your money — often from overseas, after you have already left. Choose carefully. Before you hand over any details, do these three things:

1. Check the register

Confirm they are a registered tax agent at www.tpb.gov.au. It is public, free, and takes ten seconds. You can check us directly — agent number 25287564.

2. Ask for written disclosure

Before anything is lodged, ask for written disclosure of the fees and your expected net payment after fees. A genuine agent puts this in writing without hesitation.

3. Never share TFN & DOB carelessly

Never share your TFN and date of birth with an unregistered website, and never run two agents at once — a second agent engaged at the same time can create conflicts in the ATO system that delay or freeze your refund.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Departing workers are targeted precisely because you are new to the system and about to leave the country with limited ability to follow up if something goes wrong. Here is what to watch for.

The “express refund” trap

Some operators — even registered tax agents — promise fast “express refunds,” lodge your tax return without your full knowledge or approval, and take hefty commissions you were never clearly told about. Some even direct your refund into their own trust account without your proper authority.

The inflated-deduction scam

Others get into your myGov, claim thousands in work expenses you never spent to inflate your refund, and take a big fee. Then the ATO audits the return — and because it is your declaration, you repay it all, with penalties. The operator is gone.

Protect your TFN

Don’t give your Tax File Number out randomly. Your TFN is one of your most sensitive pieces of information — never share it with an unregistered website, a random caller, or a “too good to be true” refund offer. Once someone has your TFN and date of birth, they can lodge in your name. Share it only with a registered agent you have checked and chosen.

How we are different

At ALITAX we never lodge without two separate approvals — you accept the quote first, then you sign the return. You always see exactly what you are charged and what you receive. That is our transparency promise, and it exists precisely because we know how vulnerable you are once you have left Australia.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) lets recent graduates live, study and work in Australia temporarily. Because you can be here for two to four years or more, your tax situation is often different from a short-stay worker — and there are two pots of money to think about when you eventually leave: your tax refund and your superannuation.

Your residency for tax purposes

Many 485 holders live in Australia long enough, and with enough continuity, to be treated as an Australian resident for tax purposes. That usually means you are taxed at resident rates and receive the tax-free threshold. Residency is decided on your individual circumstances — how long you stay, where you live, your ties to Australia — not simply on your visa label. Getting this right affects your refund significantly.

Claiming your super (DASP) after you leave

While you work, your employer pays superannuation for you. Once you have permanently left Australia and your 485 visa has ceased or been cancelled, you can claim that super back through a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP). You cannot claim it while the visa is still active and you are still in the country.

What to do before you go

• Lodge your final tax return for your last year of work.
• Keep a certified copy of your passport ready for your super fund.
• Keep an Australian bank account open if you can — it is the fastest way to be paid.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

If you studied in Australia on a Student visa (subclass 500, or an earlier student subclass) and worked while you were here, you have almost certainly paid tax — and built up super — that you may be able to claim back.

How students are taxed

Most international students who live in Australia for the duration of their course are treated as Australian residents for tax purposes, because they are here continuously for a long period and establish a home here. As a resident, you get the tax-free threshold, so if your income was modest, you may be due a refund of tax withheld by your employer.

Your super as a student worker

Every employer must pay super on your wages, even for part-time and casual work within your student work limits. When you finish studying and leave Australia permanently with your student visa ceased, you can claim that super as a DASP.

Don't leave it behind

Students are the group who most often forget their super — the amounts feel small during study but add up over several years. We can track down super across every fund you worked for, including any the ATO is now holding.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, workers from Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste can work in Australia in short-term placements of up to 9 months, or long-term placements of one to four years. If you have worked on PALM, you almost certainly have a tax refund and superannuation waiting.

Your residency for tax purposes

How you are taxed depends on your residency status — a separate concept from your visa. As a general rule the ATO accepts:

• Short-term PALM workers (up to 9 months) as foreign residents for tax purposes
• Long-term PALM workers (one to four years) as Australian residents for tax purposes

The multi-year visa point (condition 8576)

Here is what confuses almost everyone. Some short-term workers enter on a multi-year visa of up to four years. On paper that looks long-term. But you still only complete 9-month contracts, and visa condition 8576 requires you to leave after each contract and return for the next. Even with the longer visa, the ATO still accepts these workers as foreign residents for tax purposes because of how those contracts and departures work. This changes your whole return, so it is important to get right.

Claiming your super (DASP)

While you work, your employer pays super for you. When you leave Australia permanently and your visa has ceased, you claim it back as a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) — often larger than the tax refund.

Every fund needs a certified copy of your passport to confirm your identity (see the How Certification Works chapter). Each fund handles it differently: Australian Retirement Trust and AustralianSuper want it uploaded to their portal, Rest accepts it by email, and Cbus, ANZ and HESTA ask you to post it.

How you get paid

Payment goes to an Australian bank account (fastest), an international account, or by cheque if you have neither or your super is held by the ATO (see the How You Get Paid chapter).

Why claim tax and super together

Many operators handle only the tax return, or only the super — so a worker misses one pot of money, or pays two sets of fees. We claim both in one engagement, so your residency is worked out correctly, your refund is claimed properly, and your super is chased with the right fund using the right documents.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

The 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) and the older 457 visas are employer-sponsored work visas. Holders usually live and work in Australia for several years, so tax and super planning matters.

Residency for tax purposes

Most sponsored workers who relocate to Australia and set up a home here are Australian residents for tax purposes, taxed at resident rates with the tax-free threshold. Your family's location, your housing, and the length of your stay all feed into this.

Medicare and your visa

Many temporary visa holders are not entitled to Medicare. If that applies to you, you may be able to claim a Medicare levy exemption — which can meaningfully increase your refund. You will generally need a Medicare Entitlement Statement to claim it (covered in its own chapter).

Your super when you leave

When your sponsored employment ends and you depart Australia permanently with the visa ceased, you claim your accumulated super as a DASP. Sponsored roles are often well paid, so the super balances here can be significant — well worth claiming properly.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

▶️ Changed from a 417 or 462 visa?Watch on the ALITAX video library · 1 min 37 sec

The 417 Working Holiday visa (and the similar 462 Work and Holiday visa) lets young travellers work while holidaying in Australia. Tax for working holiday makers has its own special rules.

The working holiday maker tax rate

Income earned as a working holiday maker is generally taxed under a special "backpacker tax" schedule from the first dollar, at a set rate on your working-holiday income. This is different from ordinary resident rates, and it means your refund is calculated differently — so a return prepared as if you were an ordinary resident can be wrong.

Residency and the NDA exception

Most working holiday makers are treated as foreign residents, but there is an important exception for people from certain non-discrimination-article (NDA) countries — that has its own chapter, because it can change your tax outcome.

Your super (DASP)

Employers pay super on your wages, and you claim it as a DASP when you leave. Note that the DASP tax rate applied to working holiday maker super is higher than for some other visa types — we handle that calculation for you so there are no surprises.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Australia has tax treaties with certain countries that contain a non-discrimination article (NDA). If you are a working holiday maker who is a national of an NDA country and you are also a resident for tax purposes, you may be entitled to be taxed like an Australian resident rather than under the flat working holiday maker rate.

Why this matters so much

Being taxed as a resident means you can access the tax-free threshold on your income, which can substantially increase your refund compared with the flat backpacker rate. For eligible people, this is one of the biggest differences a properly prepared return can make.

Two conditions must both be met

• You are a national of an NDA country, and
• You are a resident of Australia for tax purposes under the usual residency tests.

Both parts matter — nationality alone is not enough, and residency is judged on your circumstances. This is exactly the kind of detail that is easy to get wrong, and easy to miss out on. At ALITAX, we check your eligibility carefully.

Your super still applies

Regardless of the NDA question, you still claim your super as a DASP when you depart.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

New Zealanders in Australia are a special case. Most live and work here on a Special Category Visa (subclass 444), granted automatically on arrival — and both your super and your tax work differently to other visa holders.

Your super — transfer to KiwiSaver, not a DASP

Here’s the crucial difference: because New Zealand and Australia have a super portability arrangement, New Zealanders generally cannot claim a standard DASP. Instead, when you move back to New Zealand permanently, you can transfer your Australian super into your KiwiSaver account under the Trans-Tasman retirement savings portability scheme.

Your tax return when you leave

You should still lodge a final Australian tax return for your last year of work — you may well be owed a refund. As with everyone, mark it as your final return.

Resident or non-resident?

Most New Zealanders who live and work in Australia for a substantial period are Australian residents for tax purposes, taxed at resident rates with the tax-free threshold — which often means a refund of over-withheld tax. If you were only here briefly, you may be a foreign resident instead. As always, residency is decided on your circumstances, not just your visa, and we work it out correctly for you.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Thousands of backpackers come to Australia on a Working Holiday visa (subclass 417 or 462), then later change to a student visa (500), a 482 Skills in Demand visa, a former 457, a temporary partner visa (820 or 309), or another temporary visa.

When they eventually leave, they can usually claim their superannuation through DASP. But there is a tax rule that catches almost everybody out.

Example 1 — same super fund for both visas

You worked in Australia for three years. Year 1 on a Working Holiday visa in hospitality, earning $3,000 in super. Years 2 and 3 on a student visa, earning another $12,000. You used the same super fund throughout.

You might expect the first $3,000 to be taxed at 65% and the remaining $12,000 at 35%. Unfortunately that is generally not how it works.

Because the single DASP payment contains contributions attributable to your Working Holiday visa, its entire taxable component is subject to the 65% rate. Assuming the full balance is a taxable component taxed element:

You lose $9,750 in DASP tax — when only $3,000 was ever earned on the Working Holiday visa.

Example 2 — a separate fund after the visa change

Same person, one difference: when the Working Holiday visa ended, they opened a new super fund for their student visa employment and kept the accounts separate.

Potential difference: $3,600 more in your pocket.

Why? Each super fund determines the tax treatment of its own DASP payment based on the information it holds. Where one payment contains Working Holiday contributions and another genuinely does not, different rates may apply.

Example 3 — Working Holiday to a 482 visa

You accumulated $5,000 in super on a 417 visa, then changed to a 482 and accumulated another $25,000, using the same fund throughout. Assuming the full $30,000 is a taxable component taxed element:

Had the $5,000 and $25,000 remained in separate funds, with no Working Holiday contributions in the second:

Potential difference: $7,500.

What to do when you change visas

At ALITAX, our advice is simple: if you are moving from a Working Holiday visa to a student, partner, 482 or other non-Working-Holiday visa, do not automatically keep using your existing super fund without reviewing the consequences. One option worth considering is a separate complying super fund for the new visa period.

1. Keep your original records. Download statements showing the contributions received while you held the Working Holiday visa.
2. Consider a new super account before you start work on the new visa.
3. Give your employer the correct details using the ATO Superannuation Standard Choice Form. Do not assume a new employer will use the new account — your existing stapled fund may be used by default.
4. Check your contributions are actually landing in the fund you chose.
5. Be careful with rollovers. Moving super between funds can change the composition and tax treatment of a future DASP payment.

Is a second fund always the right answer?

No — and we will tell you so. More than one account can mean extra fees, duplicate insurance premiums and more admin. Changing funds does not erase your visa history or change the legal character of contributions already made. And if you later become an Australian permanent resident, you may not be eligible for DASP at all.

The goal is to understand the consequences before you make changes, not after.

The DASP rates, in full

For most backpackers with ordinary employer contributions in a taxed fund, the comparison that matters is 35% versus 65%.

The rule sits in section 5(3) of the Superannuation (Departing Australia Superannuation Payments Tax) Act 2007. You can read the official guidance on the ATO DASP page and the legislation itself.

Common questions

I am on a student visa now — will I pay only 35%?
Not necessarily. If your DASP payment includes contributions attributable to an earlier Working Holiday visa, the taxable component can be taxed at 65%.

What if I already mixed my super together?
You cannot assume that transferring the balance to another fund restores the 35% rate. The contribution and rollover histories need to be examined. At ALITAX we check this properly before anything is lodged.

Can I recover the 65% through my tax return?
Generally no. DASP withholding is final, and correctly withheld DASP tax is not normally refunded through an income tax return. That is exactly why the planning has to happen beforehand.

I never held a Working Holiday visa.
The ordinary rates apply — normally 35% on a taxed taxable component.

General information only — not personal tax, migration or financial product advice. Separate super accounts do not guarantee a particular DASP tax outcome. Consider fees, insurance, contribution histories and professional advice before changing funds.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Bilal Jivraj has identified specific concerns affecting PALM scheme workers from the Pacific and Timor-Leste that are often overlooked by other agents and by AI advice.

Identity and impersonation risks

• Identity theft: TFNs shared too widely, sometimes leading to fraudulent refund claims in someone else’s name
• Impersonation: someone else using a worker’s details to claim their refund or super without their knowledge

Language and communication barriers

• Language barriers making it hard to understand tax obligations, fund correspondence, or agent terms
• Phone communication difficulties with funds and the ATO
• Relying on friends to guide them on tax matters — and relying on friends’ refunds as a benchmark for their own, which is misleading because every situation is different

Employer and super issues

• Employers not paying the correct amount of super
• Employers not deducting the correct tax once income exceeds $45,000 (where the rate changes)
• Workers feeling they have no courage to ask their employer to pay the right super and correct wages

Tax return mistakes

• Missing the Medicare levy exemption they are entitled to (one of the most common errors for Fijian and other PALM workers)
• Incorrect deductions — random amounts in item D15, or claiming expenses they did not pay for
• Incorrect residency treatment and part-year resident issues

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Workers from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India and Nepal face a specific set of challenges that Bilal Jivraj has seen repeatedly over more than a decade of practice.

ABN exploitation

• Working on an ABN when they should be employees — meaning no super paid by the employer, no sick leave, no annual leave
• Employer exploitation: putting workers on ABN specifically to avoid paying super and WorkCover

Cash work and undeclared income

• Working for cash (undeclared), which creates serious ATO compliance problems when it is time to lodge

Disorganised tax and super

• Super scattered across multiple funds with no consolidation — eaten away by fees
• Unorganised tax returns across multiple years
• Unpaid taxes and GST
• Unpaid super by employers that was never followed up

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Working holiday makers from Canada, the US, the UK, Ireland and other English-speaking countries face their own set of issues — often different from PALM or sponsored workers.

Common issues

• Don’t know much about Australian taxes or the DASP system
• Don’t understand residency — and how it affects their tax rate and threshold
• Health cover confusion: which countries have reciprocal health agreements (RHCA) giving Medicare access, and which do not — this determines the Medicare levy exemption
• Change of visa from working holiday to sponsor or student, which changes both the tax rate and the DASP rate (from 65% down to 35%)
• Signing agreements without clarity on how much the agent is charging, what the refund will be, or what residency status is being applied — just going with whoever promises an “express refund”
• Relying on friends’ refunds as a guide for their own, which is misleading

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Working holiday makers from Germany, Spain, Brazil, France, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and other non-English-speaking countries face all the same issues as English-speaking backpackers — plus a critical extra problem.

All the same issues

Tax confusion, residency mistakes, health-cover eligibility, visa changes affecting rates, signing agent agreements without understanding fees, and relying on friends. See the previous chapter.

The certification and translation trap

This is the most important extra issue for non-English-speaking backpackers:

• Certification in a non-English language that the fund cannot read and will reject
• Even when translated, the translation is not done by an approved translator — it must be a NAATI-accredited translator to be accepted
• Even with a NAATI translation, the certification itself may not use the correct simple wording that funds require — for example, it must say “I certify this to be a true copy of the original document”, include the date, the certifier’s name and position (Public Notary, etc.)

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

If you held a 417 (Working Holiday) or 462 (Work and Holiday) visa, your tax return works differently. Here is when you need to lodge, and what you are entitled to.

Income under $45,000 and tax withheld at 15%

If your total income was under $45,000 and your employer withheld tax at the flat 15% WHM rate, you generally do not need to lodge a tax return unless you have specific deductions to claim that would bring your tax below what was withheld.

Income over $45,000

If your income exceeded $45,000, you must lodge. Above $45,000, the rate jumps to 30% on the excess — the same marginal rate as Australian residents. Your employer should have withheld at the higher rate above $45,000, but if they did not, you may owe the difference.

Deductions for backpackers

Working holiday makers are entitled to the same work-related deductions as Australian residents — uniforms you paid for, tools, work-related travel between jobs, and more. The rules are the same: you must have actually spent the money, it must be work-related, and you need receipts.

NDA-country backpackers — resident rates

If you are from a non-discrimination-article (NDA) country and you are a resident for tax purposes, you may be entitled to the resident rate table instead of the WHM table — including the $18,200 tax-free threshold. On $35,000 income, that changes your tax from $5,250 (WHM) to roughly $2,688 (resident). See the NDA Country Working Holiday and Tax Residency Tests chapters.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

A Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) is the super you claim back after leaving Australia permanently on a temporary visa. Here is how it works, across every fund.

When you can claim

You can claim your DASP once all of these are true: you have left Australia, your temporary visa has ceased (expired or been cancelled), and you are not an Australian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.

The certified copy of your passport

Every fund must confirm your identity before releasing money. You provide a certified copy of your passport — a photocopy an authorised person has endorsed with the words "I certify this to be a true copy of the original document, sighted by me on [date]", plus their name, signature and profession. In Australia a pharmacist or accountant can certify; overseas, an Australian consulate, a public notary, or a Justice of the Peace. All documents must be in English or translated by a NAATI-accredited translator.

How each fund wants your documents

• Australian Retirement Trust and AustralianSuper — upload the certified copy to their online portal.
• Rest — email the certified copy.
• Cbus, ANZ, HESTA — post the documents to their address.

DASP tax

DASP is taxed before you receive it, at a set rate that depends on your visa type (working holiday maker super is taxed at a higher DASP rate). Importantly, our professional fee is only ever taken from your tax refund, never from your super.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Before your super is officially confirmed, clients often want to know: roughly how much should I have? Here is how we estimate it — and why it is only ever an estimate.

Our estimation method

We look at the date you started working in Australia on your TFN, and apply the super guarantee rate that applied each year (for example 9.5%, then 10%, 10.5%, 11%, 11.5%, and now 12%). Year by year, using your earnings, we can build a rough picture of how much super should be in your account.

Why we bother estimating

The estimate helps us spot a problem — if the balance the fund shows is far lower than it should be for your work history, that can be a sign of unpaid employer super. It is one more way we make sure you get everything you are owed.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Sometimes your super is not with a fund at all — it has been transferred to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). This happens with lost or unclaimed super, small or inactive accounts, and super from former temporary residents that funds transfer to the ATO after a period. Many departing workers have money sitting with the ATO without knowing it, so we search for ATO-held super as part of every claim.

The good news — if you have an Australian bank account

If you still have an Australian bank account (such as CommBank, NAB, Westpac or ANZ), claiming ATO-held super is fast and simple. The ATO can verify you directly from their own system — usually with no separate identity check and no certified documents needed — and pay straight into your Australian account. This is by far the smoothest and quickest way to get ATO-held super back.

The catch — if you have no Australian bank account

If you don’t have an Australian bank account, ATO-held super is generally paid only by cheque, posted to your address overseas. That means:

• You must have a correct, current postal address
• You need to be able to deposit an Australian-dollar cheque where you live — which can be slow, costly, or difficult in some countries
• The whole process takes longer than a direct bank transfer

What you’ll need either way

Your identity confirmed (far simpler with an AU bank account), and a correct address if payment is by cheque. If you’re not sure whether your super is still with a fund or has moved to the ATO, we check for you.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Time matters with super. If you leave Australia and don’t claim, your money doesn’t just sit safely with your fund forever — after a period it gets moved to the ATO, and the way you claim changes.

The 6-month rule

Once your visa has ceased and you’ve left Australia, funds generally follow the unclaimed-super process: if you haven’t claimed within around 6 months, your fund can transfer your balance to the ATO as unclaimed super. After that, you claim it from the ATO rather than directly from the fund.

Low balances move too

Small or inactive low-balance accounts are also commonly swept to the ATO, even sooner in some cases. So whether it’s the passage of time or a low balance, the result is the same — your super ends up ATO-held.

It’s not lost — we can still get it

The important thing to understand: super transferred to the ATO is not gone. It’s still yours, and we can claim it for you. The main downside is that it’s often slower and, without an Australian bank account, paid by cheque. That’s exactly why claiming sooner — while your super is still with your fund and you still have an AU account open — is always the easier path.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Your Tax File Number (TFN) is how the ATO and super funds identify you. If you left Australia a long time ago, there’s an extra wrinkle you should know about.

What happens to your TFN over time

If you’ve been gone for roughly 4–5 years or more, the ATO will often have deactivated your TFN. This doesn’t mean your money is lost — but it does change how we claim, because the usual online lookups may no longer work.

Your two options with a deactivated TFN

Option 1 — You don’t know your balance

We can still apply for your super without knowing the exact balance. In this situation the money is most likely ATO-held (because so much time has passed). That means:

• If you have an Australian bank account, it can still be paid to you relatively simply.
• If you have no Australian bank account, it will generally come as a cheque.

Option 2 — You know your balance and it’s still with a fund

If you know your balance and it is not ATO-held (still sitting with a super fund), we can request that fund to transfer the money to your bank account — including an international account. This route can get your money paid directly overseas rather than waiting on a cheque.

Either way, we sort it

A deactivated TFN sounds alarming, but it’s a routine situation we handle often. We work out which pathway applies to you and take it from there — the goal is always to get your money to you the fastest way possible.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Changed jobs a few times in Australia? You may have several super accounts without realising — and that quietly costs you money.

The hidden problem with multiple funds

Each super fund charges its own administration fees, and many also charge for insurance you may not need. With several small accounts, those fees come out of every account at once — so a handful of small balances can be slowly eaten away until there’s little or nothing left to claim.

The fix — consolidate before you leave

Bringing your super together into one account (or claiming it all as one DASP) stops the double and triple fees. Contact us and we’ll guide you before you leave — we find every account, including any the ATO holds, and claim them together so nothing is lost to fees or left behind.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

An important question: what happens to super your employer pays after you have already claimed your DASP? If you claimed too early, those later contributions can be awkward to recover — here is what happens and how to avoid the problem.

If you already claimed, then more super comes in

• It may revert to the employer: if your account was closed by the DASP, a later contribution can bounce back to the employer. In that case you will need to open another super account, or ask your employer to pay into their default fund for you.
• It may go to the ATO: the contribution can end up as ATO-held or unclaimed super, which you then have to claim separately.
• It may come to your bank: if the leftover balance is very small, it can sometimes be paid directly to your bank account — which is why keeping your Australian account open matters.

Two things to do before you claim

• Keep your Australian bank account open — small leftover amounts may be paid straight to it.
• Tell your employer you are leaving (or have left) Australia — so your final pay and last super contribution are correct and on time.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Temporary workers most often have super with one of the funds below. Each has its own quirks, but in every case you’ll need a certified copy of your passport (in English or NAATI-translated) and your details must match the fund’s records. Tap any fund for a quick summary, then follow the link to the full step-by-step guide for that fund on super.alitax.com.au.

Not sure which fund you’re with, or have several? Many workers change jobs and end up with super in more than one fund — plus any the ATO now holds. We track down every account and claim them together, so nothing is left behind.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

People are often surprised how much tax comes out of their super when they claim it early as a DASP. Here’s the full picture, in plain terms.

Super is taxed twice on the way out

Your super is generally taxed at two points:

• ~15% along the way — contributions and earnings inside super are generally taxed at around 15% while the money sits in the fund. This already happened before you claim.
• DASP tax when you withdraw — when you take it out as a DASP after leaving, a further 35% (standard) or 65% (working holiday maker) is applied to the taxed element.

Why DASP is taxed so much more than retirement

Here’s the key difference: if you reached retirement age in Australia, your super would generally be paid to you tax-free. Super gets its concessional treatment because it’s meant to fund retirement in Australia. A DASP is an early withdrawal by someone leaving the country, so it doesn’t get that retirement tax-free treatment — instead the DASP rates (35% or 65%) apply.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Your residency for tax purposes is the single most important factor in your return. It determines your rate table, whether you get the tax-free threshold, and the size of your refund. The ATO uses four tests — you only need to pass one to be a resident.

Test 1 — The Resides Test (primary)

Do you reside in Australia in the ordinary meaning of the word? The ATO looks at your behaviour and circumstances:

• Where do you live — do you have a home or lease in Australia?
• Where is your family?
• Where are your economic ties — bank accounts, job, assets?
• Where are your social ties — memberships, clubs, children in school?
• How long and how continuously are you here?

Test 2 — The Domicile Test

If your domicile (your permanent legal home) is in Australia, you are a resident — unless the ATO is satisfied that your permanent place of abode is overseas.

Test 3 — The 183-Day Test

If you are physically present in Australia for 183 days or more in a financial year (continuously or with breaks), you are treated as a resident — unless both your usual place of abode is outside Australia and you have no intention of residing here.

Test 4 — Commonwealth Superannuation Test

For Australian Government employees overseas who are members of the CSS or PSS superannuation schemes — automatically a resident. Rarely relevant for departing temporary workers.

Check it yourself

The ATO has its own online residency calculator: ato.gov.au — Your tax residency. We also assess your residency as part of every return.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Your residency for tax purposes determines which rate table the ATO applies to your income — and the difference is huge. This chapter shows you all three rate schedules with worked examples, so you can see exactly what you would pay.

How the ATO decides your residency

Residency for tax purposes is not the same as your visa. The ATO looks at where you live, how long you stay, where your family and belongings are, and whether Australia is your home. Someone on a temporary visa can still be a tax resident if they live here for an extended period with continuity. We assess this for every client because getting it wrong changes your entire return.

1. Australian resident rates (2025–26)

Residents get the tax-free threshold — the first $18,200 is tax-free — then pay progressive rates above that. They also pay the 2% Medicare levy (unless exempt).

2. Foreign resident rates (2025–26)

No tax-free threshold — taxed from the first dollar at a flat 30% up to $135,000, then higher. Foreign residents do not pay the Medicare levy.

3. Working holiday maker rates (2025–26)

Visa subclasses 417 and 462 have their own special schedule — often called the “backpacker tax.” No tax-free threshold, and a flat 15% on the first $45,000, then ordinary rates above that. No Medicare levy (most WHMs are not entitled to Medicare).

The NDA exception for working holiday makers

If you are a national of a non-discrimination-article (NDA) country and you are a resident for tax purposes, you may be entitled to the resident rate table instead of the WHM table — including the $18,200 tax-free threshold. On $35,000 income, that changes your tax from $5,250 (WHM) to $2,688 (resident). See the NDA Country Working Holiday chapter.

Why this all matters for your refund

Your employer withholds tax from every pay based on assumptions — but your actual tax is calculated on your return using the correct rate table. If your employer withheld at the wrong rate, or you worked only part of the year, you have likely overpaid — and that overpayment is your refund. We make sure the right rate table is applied so your refund is as large as it should be.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

This is the chapter that shows you where every number comes from. Your super and your tax refund are each taxed in their own way — here’s how, with real worked examples. (Figures here are illustrations to show the method; your actual amounts depend on your income and circumstances.)

Part 1 — DASP tax on your super

When your super is paid out as a DASP, tax is taken from it before you receive it. The rate depends on your visa type:

• Working Holiday Maker (417 / 462) super — taxed at the WHM DASP rate of 65% on the taxed element. This high rate applies if any of your super was earned while you held a working holiday visa.
• All other visas (485, student 500, 482/457, PALM, and most others) — taxed at the standard DASP rate of 35% on the taxed element (and 45% on any untaxed element, which is uncommon).

Part 2 — How your income tax refund works

Your tax refund comes from the difference between the tax your employer withheld from your pay and the tax you actually owe once your return is done. Whether you get the tax-free threshold depends on your residency.

Resident for tax purposes

Residents get the tax-free threshold — the first portion of income each year is tax-free — then pay progressively higher rates above that. If your employer withheld tax as if you’d earn a full year’s wage but you only worked part of the year, you’ve likely overpaid, and that’s your refund.

Part-year tax-free threshold (if you left early)

If you became a resident partway through the year, or left partway through, your tax-free threshold is pro-rated for the months you were here — you don’t always get the full amount. We calculate the correct part-year threshold so your return is accurate and you’re not over- or under-claiming.

Foreign resident tax

Foreign residents do not get the tax-free threshold and are taxed from the first dollar at foreign-resident rates. Many short-stay and PALM workers fall here — which is why getting your residency right is so important to your refund.

Working holiday maker tax & the NDA exception

Working holiday makers are generally taxed under a special schedule from the first dollar of working-holiday income. But if you are a national of a non-discrimination-article (NDA) country and a resident for tax purposes, you may be entitled to be taxed like a resident — with the tax-free threshold — which can substantially increase your refund. See the NDA Country Working Holiday chapter.

Part 3 — Medicare levy & surcharge

The Medicare levy is 2% of taxable income that most residents pay. But many temporary visa holders are not entitled to Medicare — and if you’re not entitled, you shouldn’t pay the levy. You claim an exemption with a Medicare Entitlement Statement.

The Medicare levy surcharge is an extra charge for higher earners without private hospital cover — but if you’re exempt from Medicare, the surcharge generally doesn’t apply to you either. Getting the exemption right can add hundreds of dollars back.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Your final tax return is one of the most important steps when you leave Australia — done right, it unlocks a bigger refund and tells the ATO you’re not coming back.

Lodging through myGov

You can lodge through your myGov account (linked to the ATO), or we lodge it for you as your registered tax agent. Forgotten your myGov password? You can reset it on the myGov sign-in page — but you don’t need myGov access for us to help; we can lodge on your behalf.

Tick “final tax return” — very important

When it’s your last return, you must indicate it is a final return so the ATO knows you are leaving and not returning. This is essential — it’s also what lets you correctly claim the part-year tax-free threshold.

Part-year tax-free threshold

If you were a resident for only part of the year, your tax-free threshold is pro-rated for your months in Australia — but you still need to claim it correctly. Marking the return as final and answering residency properly is how you access it. See the How Your Tax & DASP Are Taxed chapter for worked examples.

Claim your deductions to boost your refund

You can claim work-related deductions to increase your tax refund — as long as the expense was genuinely used for work. Uniforms, tools, work-related travel, and more may count. Lodge your deductions with us alongside your tax return so they’re done correctly.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

You’ve done everything right and sent all your documents — but your super still hasn’t arrived. This is normal, and this chapter explains why it happens and how we fix the common problems.

The fund controls the timing

Even when we lodge correctly and send every document, the super fund sometimes delays the payment for their own identity checks or other internal reasons. We follow up with the fund from time to time on your behalf — but the final decision to release your money is theirs, not ours. We chase it; they release it. Please be patient, and know that we are actively pushing it along.

Common reasons for a hold-up

1. Certification issues

The most common delay. If your certified copy is missing the required wording, the date sighted, the certifier’s printed name, signature or profession — or if the certifier isn’t someone the fund accepts — the fund will reject it and ask again. See the How Certification Works chapter, and always forward the fund’s email to us so we can guide you before you re-certify.

2. Date of birth mismatch

If the date of birth the fund has on file doesn’t match your passport, they will freeze the claim until it’s corrected. This usually means submitting the fund’s change of details form with proof (your passport), and sometimes a statutory declaration.

3. Name mismatch or name change

If your name on the fund’s records differs from your passport — a spelling difference, a maiden/married name, or names in a different order — the fund needs it corrected first. If you have legally changed your name, we often need to update it in both the ATO and the super fund, because they must match for the payment to go through.

4. Identity verification

Some funds run extra identity checks regardless of your documents, especially for overseas payments. There’s often nothing wrong — they’re simply being cautious — but it adds time.

How we fix these

Change of details form. Most funds have a form to correct your name, date of birth or contact details. At ALITAX, we help you complete it and attach the right proof so it’s accepted the first time.

Statutory declaration — signed remotely. Where a fund needs a sworn statement — for example to confirm you are the same person under a slightly different name — a statutory declaration can be signed remotely, wherever you are in the world. Australian statutory declarations can now be witnessed by audio-visual link (video call), or in person by an authorised witness overseas such as an Australian consulate official, a notary public or a Justice of the Peace. You do not need to be in Australia. We prepare the wording and guide you through the video witnessing so it’s accepted first time.

Proper certification. Getting the certification right the first time avoids the single biggest cause of delay — so we walk you through it before you visit the certifier.

Updating the ATO and the fund together. For a name change, we make sure your details match across both the ATO and your super fund, so one doesn’t reject what the other approves.

Correcting your name at the ATO — the 1194 form

If your name needs to be corrected or changed with the ATO and it can’t be done online, it’s done manually using the ATO’s form 1194 (Change of details for individuals). When lodged manually this way, a fee of $55 applies. We prepare this for you and explain the payment so there are no surprises.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

“My friend got a huge refund — why is mine so low?” We hear this constantly. The honest answer: a refund is not magic, and it is not a prize. It depends entirely on your income and how much tax you actually paid.

Why refunds differ

Your refund is simply the difference between the tax you paid and the tax you actually owed. Two people can have very different refunds because of different income, different hours, different tax withheld, and different deductions. Your friend’s bigger refund usually just means they overpaid more tax during the year — not that they have a secret trick.

Complete transparency — what we show you

Unlike operators who promise “express refunds” and hide the details, we show you everything. Once we process your return, you receive a full summary:

• Your ATO portal breakdown — exactly what the government calculated you are owed
• How much money arrived in our trust account
• How much we paid you, and how much we kept as our fee
• Our invoice
• Your Notice of Assessment from the ATO

This is what real transparency looks like: every dollar the government owes you, every dollar of our fee, all in writing. Nothing hidden.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Deductions can genuinely increase your refund — but only when they are real and correctly claimed. This chapter shows you how to claim properly, and the common mistakes that get people audited.

The golden rule: you need to have spent it, on work

You can only claim a deduction if you actually paid for it, it was directly related to earning your income, and you have a record to prove it. Keep your receipts — without them, a deduction can be denied on audit.

Common mistakes we see (and fix)

Over years of reviewing returns, we see the same costly errors again and again — often on returns people lodged themselves or through operators who inflated them:

1. Missing the Medicare levy exemption

Many Fijian and PALM scheme workers — and others — miss out on the Medicare levy exemption they are entitled to, or wrongly pay the 2% levy. At ALITAX, we check this for every client.

2. Wrongly claiming under “Other deductions” (item D15)

At ALITAX we see people claim large random amounts — for example $14,550 — in the “Other deductions” section (item D15), giving themselves an extra ~$4,500 refund they are not entitled to. That section is reserved for very specific things, not general expenses. It is for items such as:

• Income protection, sickness and accident insurance premiums
• Election expenses for local, state or federal candidates
• Certain sharing-economy or marketplace income expenses
• Foreign exchange losses; certain debt deductions
• Certain business-related capital expenditure (section 40-880 start-up costs)
• Net personal services income (PSI) losses; certain primary production capital expenditure

3. Travel and car claims with only one job

At ALITAX we see travel and car expenses claimed together by people who had only one job — and when we ask, they confirm they never travelled between work sites. Ordinary home-to-work travel is not deductible. Claiming it is a red flag.

4. Uniform claims when uniforms were provided

People claim $1,800 in uniform expenses when their uniform and everything else was provided by the employer. If you did not pay for it, you cannot claim it.

5. Donations to non-DGR organisations

Donations to a church or mosque are only deductible if that organisation is a registered Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR). Most local places of worship are not DGR-registered, so those donations cannot be claimed.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini are useful for general questions. But when it comes to your tax, there is a hard limit you must understand.

They cannot see your tax records

No AI chatbot has access to your ATO account, your income statements, your super, or your tax history. They cannot log into your myGov, cannot see what your employer reported, and cannot check your individual circumstances. So any “advice” they give about your refund is a general guess — not advice based on your actual situation.

Why this matters

Acting on generic AI advice as if it were personal tax advice is how people make the exact mistakes in the previous chapter — claiming things they are not entitled to, or missing things they are. A registered tax agent looks at your actual records and applies the law to your situation. That is the difference between a guess and real advice.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

This is one of the most common and painful situations we see. If you worked on an ABN (Australian Business Number) as a contractor, the rules are very different — and often not in your favour.

Working on an ABN means no super — and usually no tax refund

When you work on an ABN, you are treated as a contractor running your own business, not an employee. That means:

• No employer super: your “employer” is not necessarily required to pay super for you (though in some cases they legally should have). So there may be no super to claim.
• No tax withheld: no tax is taken out of your pay during the year — so at tax time you owe the tax, rather than getting a refund.

The ATO is not a charity

An important truth many people misunderstand: the ATO only refunds tax you have actually overpaid. It is not free money.

If you are on an ABN and unsure where you stand, contact us — we will work out exactly what you owe or are owed, and whether any super should have been paid.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

The Medicare levy is an extra 2% of taxable income that most Australian residents pay to help fund the public health system. There is also a Medicare levy surcharge for higher earners without private hospital cover. But many temporary visa holders are not entitled to Medicare — and if you are not entitled, you should not be paying for it.

Claiming the exemption

If you were not entitled to Medicare benefits for all or part of the year, you may be able to claim a full or partial exemption from the Medicare levy and the surcharge. On a normal income this can add a meaningful amount back to your refund.

The Medicare Entitlement Statement

To claim the exemption, you generally need a Medicare Entitlement Statement (MES) from Services Australia, confirming the period you were not entitled to Medicare. At ALITAX, we help you request this and apply the exemption correctly on your return.

Protection visa holders

Note the exception: if you held a protection visa, you are generally not eligible for the Medicare levy exemption (protection visa holders typically have Medicare access). You can, however, still claim your super (DASP) and your tax return as normal.

Getting the form & more info

The Medicare Entitlement Statement application is form MS015, available here: servicesaustralia.gov.au/ms015. Supporting documents must be clear, in PDF/JPG/PNG/GIF/BMP, not password-protected, under 5MB each. A helpful explainer video: watch on YouTube. We prepare and lodge this for you as part of your return.

Who this commonly applies to

Sponsored workers (482/457), some student and graduate visa holders, and other temporary residents from countries without a reciprocal health care agreement often qualify. At ALITAX, we check your specific situation.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

This is one of the most misunderstood parts of a departing worker’s tax return. Whether you can claim the Medicare levy exemption depends heavily on which country you’re from — because of Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCA).

What an RHCA means for your tax

Australia has RHCAs with 11 countries. If you’re from one of these, you generally have access to Medicare for medically necessary treatment while you’re here — which usually means you are NOT entitled to the Medicare levy exemption, because the exemption is for people with no Medicare access.

The 11 RHCA countries

Tap your country for what it means for you:

So who CAN claim the exemption?

Generally, temporary visa holders from countries without an RHCA — for example India, Nepal, the Philippines, Fiji and most Pacific nations, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and many African and South American countries — who were not entitled to Medicare. They claim the exemption with a Medicare Entitlement Statement (see the Medicare Levy Exemption chapter).

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Two questions we are often asked — answered simply.

Can I amend a tax return?

Yes. If a return was lodged with an error — by you, or by someone else — it can usually be amended within 2 years of the date on your Notice of Assessment. So if a previous year was done wrong (for example, a missed Medicare exemption or an incorrect deduction), we can often fix it and recover what you are owed — or correct an over-claim before the ATO does.

Can I claim back the tax paid on my super?

No. The tax deducted from your super — both the ~15% charged inside the fund and the DASP tax (35% or 65%) on withdrawal — is not claimable or refundable. It is a final tax on that payment. See the How Your Super Is Taxed chapter for the full explanation.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

The questions we are asked most often — tap any question.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Quick reference for the terms used throughout this guide, plus visa types and how they connect to the tax and DASP rules.

Key terms

Visa types & their tax/DASP rules

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

We are proud of a 5.0-star rating across more than 90 Google reviews — every one genuinely earned over years of work, from clients in Australia, the Pacific, India, Vietnam, the UK, Trinidad & Tobago, Bangladesh and around the world. Here are just a few, in their own words.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

These are real client outcomes from ALITAX — not hypothetical examples. Each one shows the kind of issue we solve every day, and why hands-on experience with each fund matters more than a generic online form.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

After more than a decade helping departing workers, Bilal Jivraj has seen where the system works — and where it lets people down. These are his respectful recommendations to the organisations that shape the DASP and tax experience for expats. They are offered constructively, in the hope of making the process fairer and safer for people who have contributed to Australia and are now far from home.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Our fees are for professional services and are separate from any ATO or super fund payment. Here is our refund policy in full.

Overview

ALITAX provides professional tax agent services, including DASP claim management, individual tax return preparation, and related services. All fees are for professional services rendered, and are separate from any amounts paid or refunded by the ATO or superannuation funds.

Fee disclosure

At ALITAX we always disclose fees before commencing work. You will not be charged for any service without prior agreement. See our pricing page for indicative fees.

DASP services — no upfront fee

For DASP claim management, we charge no upfront fee. Our professional fee is payable only after your DASP application has been successfully processed and payment received. If your DASP application is unsuccessful through no fault of your own after we have lodged it, our fee obligations will be discussed with you case-by-case.

Tax return — cancellation before lodgement

If you cancel a tax return engagement before lodgement, tell us as soon as possible. Where substantial work is already done, a partial fee may apply for the work completed — we will advise any charge before proceeding.

If you cancel after lodgement, the service has been performed and fees are generally non-refundable. If you believe there was an error, see our Complaints chapter.

Errors and remediation

If we made an error in preparing or lodging your return or DASP application, we will correct it at no additional charge. Where a fee was charged for work found to contain an error attributable to us, we will consider a partial or full refund case-by-case.

How to request a refund

To request a refund of an ALITAX service fee, contact us with your full name and reference number, the service the fee was charged for, and the reason for your request:

• Email: bilal@alitax.com.au
• Phone: 0422 665 268

We respond to refund requests within 5 business days. If you are unhappy with the outcome, see our Complaints chapter for escalation options, including the Tax Practitioners Board.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

ALITAX is committed to professional, ethical, high-quality service. If you are dissatisfied with anything, we want to hear from you so we can resolve it promptly and fairly.

Where to send each type of enquiry

• General tax lodgement, refund or superannuation queries or complaints: dasphelp@alitax.com.au
• Pricing complaints or feedback: info@alitax.com.au
• Urgent enquiries: bilal@alitax.com.au

Step 1 — Contact us directly

Most concerns are resolved quickly through open communication. Email bilal@alitax.com.au, phone 0422 665 268, or post: Bilal Jivraj t/as ALITAX, Glenroy, Victoria, Australia. Please include your full name and contact details, a clear description of your concern, any relevant dates/reference numbers/documents, and the outcome you are seeking.

Step 2 — Our response

We acknowledge your complaint within 2 business days and aim to give a substantive response within 14 business days (complex matters may take longer; we keep you informed). Our response explains what occurred, the steps we are taking, and any remedial action.

Step 3 — External escalation

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may escalate to an external body.

Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) — for agent conduct or scams

The TPB regulates registered tax agents. If your complaint relates to a tax agent’s conduct — including agent scams — you can lodge a complaint with the TPB. Their process lets you report a registered agent for misconduct, and they can investigate and take action.

• Website: tpb.gov.au/complaints
• Phone: 1300 362 829

Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) — for privacy

If your complaint relates to the handling of your personal information, contact the OAIC: oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-complaints or 1300 363 992.

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Know someone else who worked in Australia and is heading home? Help them claim what they’re owed — and get rewarded for it.

How it works

• Invite your friends to claim their DASP with ALITAX.
• They start their claim at alitax.com.au/dasp and write your name so we know you referred them.
• When they join, you earn A$50 to A$100, and your friend gets a special discount.

Refer a friend →

ALITAX · Bilal Jivraj — Registered Tax Agent 25287564. Original guidance from 10+ years of DASP and tax casework.

Bilal Jivraj is a Registered Tax Agent and the Director of ALITAX, an Australian tax practice he has run since 2014. He specialises in helping temporary visa holders claim what they are owed when they leave Australia — both their superannuation (DASP) and their final tax refund, together, in one engagement.

Over more than a decade he has guided workers on every temporary visa — PALM scheme, 485 graduate, student, 482/457 sponsor, and working holiday — through the tax and super system, and personally handles the certification, fund follow-ups and ATO issues that trip most people up. He wrote this guide so departing workers, often far from Australia with limited support, can understand the whole process and never leave money behind.

Specialisations

• PALM scheme — DASP and tax return specialist
• Expats & former residents — DASP and tax specialist for people who have left Australia, servicing clients all over the world
• Backpackers / Working Holiday — DASP and tax specialist for 417 and 462 visa holders

Credentials & certificates

Tax Agent — Registration No. 25287564
Registered since 12 November 2015
No conditions, no suspensions, no sanctions