Work & tax: minimum wage, leave, tax returns, super, ABNs and JobSeeker

Before your first job in Australia, apply for a tax file number (TFN), set up myGov and give your bank your TFN. When you start, fill in the TFN declaration, choose a super fund, and check that your pay follows the right award and that you get payslips on time. Know your leave entitlements, and know that the Fair Work Ombudsman helps with unpaid wages and unfair dismissal. Lodge a tax return every July. If you freelance or drive for a ride-share app, get an ABN first. Each step links to a verified guide and the official source.

If you are owed wages, underpaid, dismissed without good reason or exploited at work, first check the rules and collect evidence, then raise the problem with your employer and put it in writing. If that does not work, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman (Fair Work Infoline 13 13 94; for an interpreter call 131 450 first) or take a small claim to court yourself for unpaid wages of up to A$100,000. If you were unfairly dismissed, you must apply to the Fair Work Commission within 21 days. Visa holders have the same protections, and asking Fair Work for help will not get your visa cancelled.

JobSeeker Payment is income support for people aged 22 to Age Pension age who are looking for work, or who cannot work for a short time because of illness or injury. Centrelink pays it every 2 weeks. You must be an Australian resident (a citizen, permanent resident or protected New Zealand SCV holder) and be in Australia; most new permanent residents wait 4 years, and temporary visa holders are usually not eligible. From 20 September 2026 the maximum rate for a single person with no children is A$824.90 a fortnight. You must also pass the income and assets tests and meet mutual obligation requirements (looking for work) while you receive it.

The National Employment Standards (NES) set the minimum leave for every employee in Australia. Full-time employees get 4 weeks of paid annual leave a year, 10 days of paid sick and carer's leave, 2 days of compassionate leave each time it is needed, and 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave a year. After 12 months of continuous service you can take up to 12 months of unpaid parental leave. Part-time employees get these pro rata. Casual employees get no paid annual or sick leave but receive casual loading instead. Public holidays and long service leave are set by each state and territory.

Australia's income year runs from 1 July to 30 June. If you earned income and had tax withheld, you generally need to lodge a tax return with the ATO after the income year ends. If you lodge it yourself with myTax, the due date is 31 October; a registered tax agent can lodge later. The ATO then works out whether you get a refund or owe tax. Australian residents for tax purposes have a tax-free threshold of A$18,200 and also pay the 2% Medicare levy; foreign residents and working holiday makers pay different rates.

Every employee in Australia is protected by a minimum wage. From 1 July 2026, the National Minimum Wage is A$26.44 an hour or A$1,004.90 a week (before tax). But most jobs are covered by an award, which usually sets a higher rate, so check your rate with the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool. Casual employees do not get paid leave but must receive casual loading on top of their pay. Your employer must give you a pay slip within 1 working day of payday. Employees on temporary visas have the same pay protections as everyone else.

If you run your own business in Australia, take on freelance work or earn money through a platform (ride-share, food delivery and so on), you usually need an ABN (Australian Business Number) first. Applying for an ABN at abr.gov.au is free; many of the 'ABN websites' that charge a fee are scams. GST is 10%. You must register for GST once your turnover reaches A$75,000 a year, and ride-share drivers must register before their first trip whatever they earn. Once registered, you lodge a BAS on time, and the invoices you give customers must meet the tax invoice requirements.

Super (superannuation) is Australia's compulsory retirement saving. If you are an eligible employee, your employer must pay 12% of your wages into your super fund, and this applies to temporary visa holders too. You generally cannot take the money out until you retire at 60 or reach 65. If you are a temporary resident, you can apply for a departing Australia superannuation payment (DASP) after you leave Australia and your visa ends, but tax is deducted. This page does not recommend any fund.