Tax File Number (TFN) for ABSTUDY 106-07060030

Acceptable documents and coding for TFN applications

List of ATO identity codes and acceptable document types

Applications for a TFN

Table 1

Item	Description
1	General requirements Ensure current form is used Ensure the original form is returned (i.e. not a faxed or uploaded copy) Only documents that meet ATO requirements should be completed on the form. If the identity documents supplied by the customer are not sufficient to apply for a TFN they must either supply acceptable documents or visit the ATO website for more information Complete the Office Use Only block only if the applicant is a Services Australia customer Form must be completed in pen. Use black ink, where possible, as this will enhance the potential to scan the form. Pencil is not acceptable Print all details clearly Write only within the boxes Do not use whiteout or covering stickers. A new application must be completed All alterations on the application must be signed by the applicant with a full signature Date of Birth field must only be completed where the date of birth is blank or the date provided does not match the identity documents provided If relevant, ensure the Proof of Identity reference has been completed in full, including their position, the period of time they have known the applicant and their signature Application verification Staff must sign and print their name A stamp must be imprinted within the 'office stamp' box when the application is complete and ready to submit to the ATO Any additional notes should be legibly written only within the 'notes' box
2	Applicant Proof of Identity block Print the applicant's identity document details in the application block. Secondary B codes are written directly below the Primary A coded documents. The ATO require customers who are aged 16 or over to provide one primary and two different secondary documents to meet their identity requirements. If the customer is aged under 16, they must provide one primary and one secondary document to meet their identity requirements. Note: there are additional accepted secondary (category B) documents for applicants under 16 years of age. See Acceptable documents and coding for TFN applications.
3	Link Documents block A link document is used to establish the relationship between the applicant and the person signing the application. The link document details must be recorded in the link document box when a: representative or nominee has signed the application on behalf of the applicant customer has supplied a document to verify a change of name Valid link documents and codes are: Australian Birth Certificate - LABC Medicare Card - LBMC Letter of Authority - LLOA Proof of Parentage/Guardianship Documents - LLPG Power of Attorney - LPOA Overseas Birth Certificate - LOBC Change of Name Document - LCON Change of Name by Deed Poll - LCDP Marriage Certificate - LMGS
4	Representative or Nominee's proof of identity block When a representative or nominee has signed the application on behalf of the applicant, their identity documents must be recorded in this block. Write the full document details (document code, document number, place of issue and date of issue or expiry) in the appropriate boxes.
5	Certification It is important to complete the following details to minimise the risk of the form being rejected: The Service Officer must sign and print their name in block letters and include their phone number The Customer Reference Number (CRN) must be entered The office stamp must be imprinted within the 'office stamp' box when the application is complete and ready to submit to the ATO Any additional notes should be written only with the 'notes' box Enter the visa number and sub class if a foreign passport has been presented
6	Common errors The most common reasons for rejecting applications originating from Services Australia: Writing 'identity sighted' instead of recording the details of the documents sighted Missing or incorrect Customer Reference Number (CRN) No office stamp imprint Alterations on the application not signed with a full signature 'Office Use Only' block not completed Questions one to four on the front page not filled in Date of birth missing or incorrect (for example current year entered as year of birth) Home address not completed where the postal address is a post office box Proof of Identity reference has not been completed in full Known applicant and applicants name not completed or no referee signature
7	Identity documents required for Representative or Nominee Representatives who sign on behalf of the customer must provide their own full identity documentation or their own TFN together with a link document showing the relationship between the two parties. The level of identity required in most cases will not be the same as the customer. For example, a parent signing on behalf of a child must meet the requirements for a person 16 years and over (i.e. one primary and two secondary documents), while the child under 16 would only require one primary and one secondary document. See Acceptable documents and coding for TFN applications.
8	Process if the document number is not recorded, or is recorded incorrectly The ATO systems do not allow the application to be processed without a document number. At present, there is no real time check with other agencies to determine if the document number is correct at the registration stage. However, the ATO does post registration checks with these agencies to verify the validity of the identity documents provided. A correct document number is an essential component for these checks.
9	Service Officer signing as referee on NAT 1589 To prevent any potential conflict of interest, if a Service Officer signs as the referee for a customer on the NAT 1589, a different Service Officer should accept and certify the form.

Office Use Only section

See Acceptable documents and coding for TFN applications.

Sample of completed identity block

Table 2

Document code	Document number	Place of issue	Date of issue or expiry
ABC	456257	NSW	1978
AAP
ACC
AFP
BMC	321455988	Aus	01/2012
BFI		Place of issue ANZ - Melbourne

If Service Officers have questions or need help completing the Office Use Only section of the application, they should contact the Customer Details Helpdesk.

TFN exemptions

Table 3: exemptions that an ABSTUDY customer may qualify for in limited circumstances. These exemptions should be temporary, with a review coded to request a TFN later.

Code	Description	Review required	Extend review	Service reasons that can use this exemption code
CAT	TFN request from ATO The customer has lodged a 'Request for TFN Details' application, and has given the ATO permission to release their TFN to Centrelink. If no response from the ATO within 28 days, follow-up action is required.	No		ALL
CER	Attending traditional ceremony For Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders who are attending a traditional ceremony at the time of lodgement.	Yes 90 days	No	ABA/ABT/ABY
DIS	Resides in a declared natural disaster zone Customers affected by a natural disaster declared by the Minister. Exemption is for the temporary period of payment granted due to the disaster. The DIS exemption code should not be applied without approval from the Emergency Management Level 2 Helpdesk. See Assessing DRA and NZ DRA claims.	Yes 90 days	Yes 90 days at a time, up to one year from initial exemption date	ABA/ABY/AGE/AUS/CAR/DRA/DSP/EIA/JSP/NMA/ PAR/PPP/PPS/PTR/SHC/SPL/WFA/WFD/YAL
HOP	Homeless Person The use of this code should be rare. A customer should be able to provide enough POI to use the ATO TFN Application/Enquiry form.	Yes 90 days	Yes 90 days at a time, up to one year from initial exemption date	ABA/ABY/AGE/AUS/DSP/JSP/NMA/PAR/SPL/YAL
PDP	Profoundly Disabled Person The customer's condition is a major barrier to providing TFN details, and no other person handling the customer's affairs can provide the customer's TFN.	No		AGE/DSP/PAR/PPP/PTR/SHC/SPL/WFA/WFD
PNH	Person in Nursing Home Customers living in a nursing home where there is no one handling the customer's affairs who could provide the TFN.	No		AGE/DSP/PAR/TFN/SHC/SPL/WFA/WFD
PPI	Person in Psychiatric Institution Customers residing in psychiatric institutions who are unable to provide TFN details due to their condition, and who do not have a person handling their affairs who can provide the TFN.	No		AGE/DSP/PAR/PTA/PTR/SHC/SPL/WFA/WFD/WID
PPU	Fire/flood damage to home Students, parents or partners who have lost all records of their TFN due to fire or flood damage to their home.	Yes 180 days		ABA/ABT/ABY/EIA
PUC	Partner uncontactable At the time of claiming the customer cannot get the partner's TFN, as the partner is uncontactable, e.g. working in a remote area.	Yes 90 days	Yes 90 days at a time, up to one year from initial exemption date	ABA/ABY/AGE/AUS/CAR/DSP/JSP/NMA/PAR/PPP/SPL/YAL
PVI	Partner Violent Where a customer feels that their partner may become violent if they were to ask them for TFN details.	Yes		ABA/ABY/AGE/AUS/CAR/DSP/EIA/JSP/NMA/PAR/PPP/SPL/YAL
REM	Remote Area Granted for customers who may be unable to provide their TFN details within 28 days due to remoteness of their location.	Yes 90 days	Yes 90 days at a time, up to one year from initial exemption date	ABA/ABY/AGE/AUS/CAR/DSP/JSP/NMA/PAR/PPP/ PPS/PTR/SPL/WFA/WFD/YAL
SEC	Secretaries Exemption Note: only staff from the Customer Details Helpdesk can apply this exemption.	No		ABA/ABT/ABY/AGE/AUS/CAR/DSP/JSP/NMA/PAR/ PPP/PPS/PTR/SHC/SPL/WFA/WFD/YAL
U16	ABSTUDY, under 16 years old For student aged under 16 years and parents/guardians of students aged under 16 years.	No		ABT/ABY/PAR