What happens to your Australian tax obligations after you leave the country?

What do you still need to do after leaving Australia?

After leaving, three main obligations remain:

1. Lodge your tax return for any year you earned income
2. Claim your superannuation through the DASP process
3. Cancel your ABN if you registered one
4. Update contact details so any correspondence reaches you

Our team handles all four together as part of a "departure tax package" for working holiday makers.

How do you lodge your tax return from overseas?

Through our service, the process is fully remote:

• Send us your details (TFN, passport, employment dates)
• We pull your income statements from the ATO system
• We prepare and lodge the return on your behalf
• Refund is paid to your Australian bank account

The standard deadline is 31 October following the financial year. Through our service as your registered tax agent, the deadline is typically extended to May the following year.

Failing to lodge when required can result in penalties. The ATO has your income records from your employers and expects a return. See our article on lodging a tax return from overseas.

How do you claim your superannuation?

If super contributions were made on your behalf, you can claim them through the Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) process:

• Available once your visa has expired and you have left Australia
• We lodge the application on your behalf
• 65% withholding tax applies to the taxable component
• Net amount is paid to your nominated bank account (Australian or overseas)

See our detailed article on how to apply for DASP for the full process.

How do you cancel your ABN?

If you registered for an ABN:

• We cancel it as part of wrapping up your Australian tax position
• The cancellation takes effect from a specified date
• Keeps your business records tidy
• Prevents administrative issues if you ever return to Australia

See our article on cancelling your ABN for what to wrap up before cancellation.

What contact details should you update?

To make sure correspondence reaches you:

• Keep your email address current (and accessible from anywhere)
• Update your address on file (consider using an overseas address)
• Notify your super fund of your new contact details
• Make sure your bank account is still accessible

When you work with our team, we manage all of this. We become your point of contact for the ATO and super funds, so you do not need to track multiple agencies. Get in touch to start the process.

How long should you keep your Australian bank account open?

Keep your Australian bank account open until:

• Any tax refund has been paid
• Any super withdrawal has been received (or arrange for overseas payment)
• Any final adjustments have been processed

Most working holiday makers can close their Australian account within 3-4 months of departure, but only after all payments have cleared. We let you know when it is safe to close.