Tax File Number (TFN) for ABSTUDY 106-07060030
Do not give tax file numbers (TFNs) to customers or other parties. Tell them to contact the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Individual enquiries line.
This document outlines how to help customers meet the requirement to provide a TFN or have a valid TFN exemption for ABSTUDY.
On this page:
Claiming or receiving ABSTUDY
Table 1
Step |
Action |
1 |
TFN used for previous claim? + Read more ... Check the Tax File Number Authorisation Summary (TFS) screen in Customer First, or the TFN table in Process Direct for the customer and their partner. Has the TFN previously been provided?
|
2 |
Is the customer exempt? + Read more ... The following customers do not need to provide a TFN when making a claim:
Consider other exemptions depending on the customer’s circumstances. Note: always document the reason for any decision to apply an exemption. See the Resources page for other exemptions, codes and review periods. Is the customer, their partner or parent/guardian exempt from providing their TFN?
|
3 |
Recording a TFN exemption + Read more ... In Process Direct:
In Customer First:
If the customer's ABSTUDY payment is cancelled or suspended for a reason relating to their TFN, see Restoration of ABSTUDY payments. Procedure ends here. |
4 |
Customer or parent/guardian is required to provide their TFN, TFN application or evidence of their TFN application for new claim + Read more ... Online and Assisted Customer Claims Customers need to complete all required TFN statements in their claim before they can submit the claim. If they do not have or do not know their TFN, and do not meet one of the TFN exemption reasons, the customer, partner or parent/guardian will be asked to provide:
If they do not do this, the ABSTUDY claim will be rejected. When the TFN or Application for a TFN has been lodged, the ABSTUDY claim may be re-opened. Tertiary students and Australian Apprentices who complete an ABSTUDY online claim can upload evidence of their, their partner's or their parents' Application for a TFN through:
The task on Next steps includes links to: All other ABSTUDY claimant types are unable to claim online but can still upload evidence of their TFN application using the Upload documents service. Paper claims and verbal claims lodged via the ABSTUDY Claiming Tool. Customers are asked to complete relevant TFN statements in the claim questions. Accept paper claims if the customer or parent/guardian has completed all required TFN statements. If the customer does not meet one of the TFN exemption reasons, they must provide their TFN, a TFN application form or evidence of TFN application lodgement with the ATO within 14 days. If they do not do this, the ABSTUDY claim will be rejected. When the TFN or application for a TFN has been lodged, the ABSTUDY claim may be re-opened. Check the TFN statement in the customer's claim:
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5 |
Record the TFN details + Read more ... In all cases, check the TFN screen and update if required. Note: do not record TFNs in a DOC. Record the customer’s TFN on the customer’s TFN screen only. In Process Direct, record the TFN within the customer's claim:
In Customer First go to the TFN screen and code the following fields:
If the customer's ABSTUDY payment is cancelled or suspended for a reason relating to their TFN, see Restoration of ABSTUDY payments. Procedure ends here. |
Requesting TFNs
Table 2
Step |
Action |
1 |
Contact customer or parent/guardian + Read more ... Contact the customer to discuss options for providing or obtaining a TFN. If the customer is not available, contact may be made with an appropriate third party, for example:
Unsuccessful contact + Read more ... If a contact with the customer or appropriate third party has not been successful, send a written request for a TFN, go to Step 4. Customers with a TFN + Read more ...
Lost or forgotten TFN + Read more ... If a customer asks for assistance obtaining their TFN, go to Step 2. Customers without a TFN + Read more ... When applying for a TFN, customers can authorise the ATO to give their TFN details to Centrelink. If the customer chooses to:
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2 |
Lost or forgotten TFN + Read more ... Indigenous customers can contact the ATO Indigenous Helpline and will need to pass ATO PORO. If the customer is with a face to face staff member and needs help to complete the phone call, staff can use the speaker phone to help. Staff must protect the customer’s privacy before using the speaker phone:
Staff must use the following script to introduce themselves to the ATO staff member: My name is xxx and I am from Services Australia. We have called through on the Indigenous phone line and I am on speaker phone to assist the customer. If needed, tell the ATO staff member: I would like you to refer to the ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander’ page. I am comfortable to wait if you need to check with your support officer. See the ATO website for more information. Did the customer provide their TFN details?
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3 |
ATO online TFN applications + Read more ... See the Resources page for a link to the online application on the ATO website. Advise the customer:
If the customer provides a copy of the online Application Summary and receipt, they meet the requirements for coding of the CAT exemption. See Step 5 in Table 1 Has the ATO returned a result within 28 days?
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4 |
Issue written request for a TFN + Read more ... Issue a written request for the TFN via the most appropriate method:
Tell the customer the ATO requires the original TFN application or enquiry form. Not a faxed or uploaded copy. Tell the customer their ABSTUDY will be rejected or cancelled if they do not provide their TFN or evidence of a TFN application as requested. The claim may be reassessed if they later provide the TFN. Partner TFN: follow the same process if the customer has not provided their partner's TFN. If the partner gives their TFN at any time, record it. Requests for Fares Allowance While following up the TFN, do not reject claims from ABSTUDY secondary students:
Contact the student, parent or guardian (or education institution if PPE exists) to help them provide the TFN or a TFN application form. |
5 |
Review written request for TFN + Read more ... Has the customer provided their TFN, or evidence of a TFN application in the time requested?
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6 |
Customer lodged NAT 1432 or NAT 1589 more than 28 days ago, but no TFN recorded + Read more ... This can happen sometimes. See the Resources page for common errors staff make when accepting the form. Contact the customer or their representative to find out if the customer has received their TFN from the ATO. If the customer has:
Requests for Fares Allowance While following up the TFN, do not reject claims from ABSTUDY secondary students:
Contact the student, parent or guardian (or education institution if PPE exists) to help them provide the TFN or a TFN application form. |
TFN application lodged
Table 3: for service centre staff
Step |
Action |
1 |
NAT 1432 or NAT 1589 lodged + Read more ... For customers not receiving a Centrelink payment, see Requesting a Tax File Number. For customers claiming or receiving ABSTUDY, on the day of receipt of the completed TFN application, ensure:
Does the customer have enough identity documents required by the ATO?
|
2 |
Documents provided + Read more ...
Procedure ends here. |
3 |
Documents not provided + Read more ... Check with the customer if they have the identity documents required by the ATO. Acceptable documents include:
Note: the ATO forms have not been updated to reflect that a bank account card (not credit card) is now an acceptable document. If necessary, return the form to the customer and ask them to bring it back with all required ATO documents. Alternatively, the customer may apply for a TFN through the ATO directly, or through their school if a student. Customers completing the NAT 1589 can complete and sign the Proof of Identity reference if they do not have enough identity documents. When a customer cannot meet ATO identity requirements, staff should add details in the Notes section of the TFN application. The Resources page has details of common errors staff make when accepting the form.
The ATO will decide whether a TFN will be issued based on all information provided, including Notes. Procedure ends here. |
4 |
NAT 1432 or NAT 1589 returned by the ATO due to insufficient identity + Read more ...
If the customer does not respond within the requested time, their ABSTUDY payment will cancel and they will get a letter. If the customer later provides their TFN, ABSTUDY payment may be restored if they have remained eligible. |