Tax Back in Australia: Working Holiday Refund Guide (2026)

Why working holiday makers get tax back

Tax is withheld from every pay based on an estimate. The actual amount you owe is only calculated when you lodge a tax return. For working holiday makers, the gap between the two is often large, for reasons that rarely apply to locals:

• Over-withholding at 45% - if an employer did not have your TFN on file, they withheld at 45% instead of 15%. The difference comes back in full.
• Wrong tax rate applied - employers not registered as working holiday employers must withhold at foreign resident rates (starting above 30%) rather than 15%. Common on farms and with small businesses.
• Medicare levy exemption - most 417 and 462 visa holders are not entitled to Medicare and can claim back the 2% levy with a Medicare Entitlement Statement.
• Work-related deductions - tools, uniforms, sun protection for outdoor work, courses like the RSA or White Card, and some travel between job sites.
• Leaving partway through the year - if you worked only part of the financial year, withholding often overshoots what you actually owe.

How much can you expect back?

There is no single number - anyone promising an exact refund before seeing your payment summaries is guessing. As a guide:

• Worked mostly with your TFN at the correct 15% rate: smaller refund, often from the Medicare levy exemption and deductions
• Had any period at 45% withholding (no TFN on file): usually a substantial refund
• Worked for an unregistered employer withholding at 30%+: the difference between that and 15% comes back
• Earned under the 15% bracket ceiling with multiple deductions: refunds commonly reach into the thousands

For a personalised estimate, use our tax refund calculator - it takes about two minutes.

When and how to claim

The Australian tax year runs 1 July to 30 June. You can lodge from 1 July, and the deadline for self-lodgment is 31 October. Lodging through a registered tax agent extends that deadline significantly.

There are three ways to lodge:

1. myTax via myGov - free, but the residency and working holiday questions confuse many backpackers, and mistakes are common
2. A registered tax agent - handles residency status, the Medicare levy exemption paperwork and deductions for you; fees are themselves tax-deductible next year
3. From overseas after leaving - you can lodge after departure, and if you leave permanently before 30 June you may lodge an early return instead of waiting

Our team specialises in working holiday tax returns - we check every one of the refund triggers above as standard.

Do not forget your superannuation

Tax back is only half the money. Your employers also paid 12% of your wages into a super fund. Once you have left Australia and your visa has expired, you can claim that too - it is called a DASP. Read our guide to claiming your super when leaving Australia or see our superannuation service.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a tax refund take in Australia?

Most electronically lodged returns are processed by the ATO within 2 weeks, though it can take up to 30 days. Paper returns take much longer.

Can I claim tax back if I already left Australia?

Yes. You can lodge from overseas for the current year and previous years. You will need your income statements, which your tax agent can retrieve from the ATO.

Can I claim tax back from previous years?

Yes - there is no practical limit for lodging late returns, and refunds from earlier working holiday years are claimed regularly. Late lodgment penalties rarely apply when the ATO owes you money.

Is the 15% backpacker tax refundable?

The 15% itself is generally the correct final rate on earnings up to the bracket ceiling - what comes back is everything withheld above that correct amount, plus exemptions and deductions.

Get in touch with our team for a no-obligation check of what you are owed - as registered tax agents we do this for working holiday makers every day.