What is a TFN reference number and can you work before your TFN arrives?

What is the TFN reference number?

The reference number is a temporary identifier you receive the moment you complete your TFN application:

• Appears on the confirmation screen at the end of the application
• Sent to the email address provided in the application
• Looks like a standard reference code (separate from your actual 9-digit TFN)
• Acts as proof that your application is in progress

Think of it as a receipt that tells your employer you have done the right thing and are waiting on the ATO to process your application.

Can you legally start work using only the reference number?

Yes. As a working holiday maker, you can begin employment before your TFN arrives, as long as you give your employer the reference number and then provide your actual TFN once it is issued.

What your employer should do with the reference number:

• Note the reference number in their payroll system
• Apply the 15% working holiday maker tax rate from day one
• Update your record once your real TFN arrives

If you start work without providing either a TFN or a reference number, your employer is legally required to withhold tax at the top rate of 45% until a TFN is on file. The reference number prevents that from happening.

How long before your actual TFN arrives?

The ATO typically processes TFN applications within 28 days. In practice, many working holiday makers receive theirs sooner, sometimes within two weeks. Key points:

• The TFN is sent by post to the Australian address on your application
• Use an address you will be staying at long enough to receive the letter
• Our team can follow up if 28 days pass without delivery

If you applied through our service, we keep a record of your reference number and can chase the application directly with the ATO on your behalf.

What to do once your TFN arrives

As soon as your TFN arrives:

1. Give it to your employer immediately
2. They update your Tax File Number Declaration form with the correct number
3. From that point, your records are linked to your actual TFN rather than the temporary reference

If you have moved since applying or your mail has gone to an old address, get in touch with our team and we will arrange for your TFN to be reissued securely.

Keep your reference number safe

Do not delete the confirmation email from your TFN application:

• The reference number may be needed if there are delays
• Useful if you are starting multiple jobs quickly
• Required if you need to follow up on the application

Once your TFN is issued, the reference number becomes irrelevant. But in the weeks before it arrives, it is genuinely useful for making sure your pay is processed at the correct 15% rate from your first shift.