New Zealanders (444 Visa) & KiwiSaver

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.