how to find my tax file number

June 27, 2026

You can usually find your Australian Tax File Number (TFN) by checking official documents or using government online services, and if that fails, you can contact the ATO to retrieve it after proving your identity.

How to find my tax file number

Quick Scoop

If you’re in Australia and thinking “How do I find my tax file number?”, you’re not alone — lots of people misplace it when they change jobs, move house, or haven’t done a return in a while. Your TFN is a unique identifier used for tax and super, and it stays with you for life, so the goal is to locate it safely, not to apply again (unless you truly never had one).

1. Fast ways to find your TFN

These are the quickest, official methods most people use.

A. Check your myGov / ATO online

Once linked, go to the ATO services and look for an option like “Find my TFN” or your profile/tax details — your TFN will be shown there.

If you haven’t set up myGov yet, you can create an account and then link the ATO using your identity details (Medicare, driver licence, etc.).

This online route is usually the fastest, especially if you’ve already linked the ATO in the past.

B. Check common documents at home

You can often “rediscover” your TFN just by going through previous paperwork.

Look for your TFN on:

Income tax notice of assessment from the ATO (often top right of the letter).

Any ATO letters, statements of account, or tax-related correspondence.

Employer payslips or payment summaries/income statements.

Superannuation account statements or letters.

If you tend to scan or email things to yourself, also check your email inbox for ATO or tax agent emails, or cloud storage folders where you might keep tax PDFs.

2. If you still can’t find it

If you’ve checked online and on paper and still can’t locate your TFN, the next step is to contact the ATO directly.

A. Call the ATO

You can call the ATO and ask for help retrieving your TFN; they will need to verify your identity first.

Have ready: your full name, date of birth, address, and other proof-of-identity details (e.g., Medicare card, driver licence, passport, or Centrelink details).

Once they confirm who you are, they can tell you how they’ll provide the TFN to you securely (for example, by mail or via your online account).

B. Use the ATO app (if you already use it)

Some guides and videos point out that if you’re set up with the official ATO app, you can log in and see your TFN in your account details or profile section. This is essentially similar to using ATO online via myGov, just through the mobile app interface.

3. Important security tips

Your TFN is sensitive information, so treat it like you would a bank PIN.

Don’t share your TFN in emails or messages unless it’s clearly necessary and secure (e.g., with your employer or tax agent).
Avoid typing it into random websites or forms that aren’t clearly official or from a trusted provider.
If you suspect your TFN has been stolen or misused , contact the ATO as soon as possible and follow their guidance (they may flag your record and add extra security checks).

4. What if I never had a TFN?

If you’ve checked everywhere and you’re pretty sure you’ve never been issued a TFN (common for new workers, international students, or people who have never lodged a return), you can apply for one.

The ATO provides a free TFN application via myGov or other official channels.

Once issued, that number stays with you for life across all jobs and super accounts.

5. Mini FAQ and perspectives

Is it a “trending topic”?

Every July–October (tax time in Australia), searches like “how to find my tax file number” spike as people rush to lodge returns or fill in new employer forms. Many forum discussions and videos published in 2024–2025 highlight the same pattern: people panic when a new job or bank asks for their TFN, then realise it was sitting on their old assessment or in their myGov the whole time.

Example scenario

You start a new job and HR asks for your TFN.
You log into myGov, link the ATO service, click into your tax details, and your TFN appears there. You then note it down in a secure password manager and stop worrying about losing it again.

HTML table: key places to check

Below is an HTML table summarising core ways to find your TFN.

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Method</th>
      <th>Where to look</th>
      <th>What you need</th>
      <th>Typical speed</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>ATO online via myGov</td>
      <td>Sign in to myGov &gt; ATO service &gt; “Find my TFN” / profile</td>
      <td>myGov account, linked ATO service, standard ID details</td>
      <td>Fast – usually within minutes once linked[web:5]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Paper or PDF documents</td>
      <td>Tax notice of assessment, ATO letters, payslips, super statements</td>
      <td>Access to previous tax and employment records</td>
      <td>Fast if you know where your paperwork is[web:1][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>ATO mobile app</td>
      <td>Account/profile section inside the official ATO app</td>
      <td>ATO app installed, login details</td>
      <td>Fast once set up[web:3]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Phone the ATO</td>
      <td>Call and request TFN retrieval after ID check</td>
      <td>Personal details and proof of identity</td>
      <td>Medium – depends on call wait times and processing[web:1]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Apply for a TFN (if never had one)</td>
      <td>Official ATO application via myGov or ATO forms</td>
      <td>Proof-of-identity documents</td>
      <td>Slower – you wait for the new TFN to be issued[web:5][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

TL;DR

First stop: log into myGov, link the ATO, and use “Find my TFN”.

Second: search old tax notices, ATO letters, payslips, and super statements.

If still stuck: call the ATO with your ID details and they can help you retrieve it securely.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.