First of all, there are new laws that have been signed up. Right now we pay around 38% taxes when we claim our super back after 1 or 2 years of working here. Starting from July 2017 we will have to pay around 65% on those taxes.
Claiming back your super is pretty fast and easy. You will get offers from tax back companies to do it through them but it is a waste of money. The most work is in getting all of your info together, which even with a tax back company, you have to do yourself. The part of filling out the forms is quick and that is what they do for you.
After filing back for a Super return, it is time to chill out and relax!
When can you do it?
You can only claim back your super when your VISA is inactive. Since you can start your claim and submit it at a later time, it is best to start the whole process a month before you leave by filling in all the information. For example, if you get back more than $5000 from your super, you need Australian notarized copies of your ID. This can only be done in Australia so it is best to start filling out the online form a before you left. After you leave and your VISA has expired, you can submit the whole case and the ATO can process it.
If you leave and your VISA hasn’t expired but you are leaving permanently, you can ask the Australian Government to cancel your VISA.
Gather this information:
- Your name, date of birth and other personal details. Most of you will know this already.
- Your e-mail address.
- Your passport country.
- Your passport number.
- Your Australian Tax File Number (optional). You can find these on your payment summaries from the employer you work for.
- Your superannuation account details – including your superannuation provider’s Australian Business Number (ABN). You may use the system to conduct a search for the ABN based on the fund’s name. Most of the time your first employer starts a super for you so if you have no clue, ask them.
You will also need their: SFN, date you joined the fund, SPIN and Client ID.
Filling out the form
Follow this site of the ATO. Read the first couple of pages. It informs you about keeping the application open and your password you need to enter the application again. As long as your VISA is valid you can’t submit the application.
If you want to cancel your VISA, follow this link. It will link you to a form that gives you the option to request a certification of immigration status (which you need when you do a paper super claim) and a request for cancellation of a temporary Resident VISA.
For paper claims or more information about Super claims, follow this link.
After reading all information, click on I agree.
Declare that you are doing this on behalf of yourself.
Next up, personal details:
If you agree to give your TFN to your super, it makes it easier for them to identify if you are actually who you claim to be. I didn’t find a reason not to do this so I ticked that box yes.
Your TFN number will be found in any Payment summaries you get at the end of the financial year from your employers or on the letter the ATO sent to you when you applied for it.
Other details like name and passport number I am sure you will find easily!
The ATO will then check the status of your visa. Just press next to see what it is.
If you, like us, filled in the application early and still have a valid visa in Australia, the next screen will pop up. It makes you choose a secret question for when you want to return to your application.
Fill in your contact details.
You can choose your preferred payment method. Do know that your super may not offer some of these choices. My super, which is Hostplus, doesn’t support international transfers and neither does the ATO. Secondly for international transfer, your bank will charge extra and there are fees for exchanging currencies, so it is easiest to keep your Australian bank account.
Since we linked our super to our mygov account, the ATO already knew at which company our super fund was at.
Fill in your super details or as much as you know. Most of the information, you will find on the membership card you get from your super, or at least with Hostplus, it will be. Otherwise, call your super or log in to their website to get all the other information.
Since I had multiple employers, I didn’t fill in the Employer part because there is only room for one. I also didn’t fill in Client ID, I couldn’t find it. The more information you give them, the easier it is for them to identify your super.
If your visa has run out, you will be able to submit it. If not (like Laura’s, the pictures used above are hers) you can’t submit it but it will be saved. They will send you an e-mail whenever your visa runs out so you can submit.
Great that finishes your Super claim!
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Your thoughtful analysis has actually actually opened my eyes.