Tax File Number (TFN) for Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) 065-06030010

Customers claiming a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) must provide their and their partner's Tax File Number (TFN) before the claim can be granted.

Providing a TFN in writing is defined as any form of written TFN, such as:

• electronic, including as part of an online claim
• uploading via online services, such as a letter from the ATO, or
• written by the customer and/or their partner

Where a customer's CSHC is being reviewed and/or their partner's TFN has not previously been provided, the TFN must be provided for the CSHC to remain current.

If a customer's TFN details have already been provided for previous income support payment claims, TFN re-use provisions apply.

Has the customer previously claimed an income support payment, and a TFN was provided and recorded on the TFN screen?

• Yes, the Auth: field will default to 'Y' for the customer and partner, if applicable. Procedure ends here
• No, go to Step 3

Has the customer completed the required TFN statement within the online claim or claim form?

• Yes, go to Step 4
• No, go to Step 5

• The customer's claim should be accepted.
• The TFN should be recorded on the TFN Details (TFN) screen for the customer and partner, if applicable
• Go to Step 7

If the customer has provided a Notice of Assessment (NOA) with their claim and TFN details have not been provided within the claim, the TFN from the NOA can only be input onto the customer's computer record if the customer has been contacted and their verbal consent obtained to use the TFN for CSHC purposes. This contact must be documented on the customer's record.

The customer must not be asked to quote their TFN over the telephone. In cases where both the customer's and partner's TFN is required and both TNAs have been provided, both members of the couple must be contacted to obtain their consent. If the customer cannot be contacted by telephone, a request letter should be sent to obtain the TFN.

In limited circumstances some customers may have a valid reason for exemption from supplying their TFN for CSHC.

Where the customer has not supplied the required TFN details because they do not have a TFN or do not know their TFN details, the ATO can be authorised to provide these details.

Customers can apply for a TFN using one of the following channels:

• online:
• Australian residents without an Australian passport (require lodgement of POI at an Australia Post office
• Australian citizens with an Australian passport – myGovID
• Foreign passport holders, permanent migrants and temporary visitors
• paper applications:
• Tax file number - application or enquiry for individuals (NAT 1432), or
• Tax file number - application or enquiry for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (NAT 1589). Note: the NAT1589 should only be used when an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person is unable to provide the required identity documents
• Tax file number - application or enquiry for individuals living outside Australia (NAT 2628). For more details, see Provision of Tax File Number (TFN) for family assistance and Paid Parental Leave scheme payments

Note: the NAT 2628 cannot be used by customers who are Australian residents for tax purposes.

Applications can be lodged at:

• Australia Post - by completing the online form and attending an interview at a participating Australia Post retail outlet to provide POI documentation
• Service centre - by completing one of the paper applications and lodging at a service centre with required identification

Where the customer has further questions, advise them to contact the ATO directly.

The References page contains examples of how to assess requests for exemptions from providing TFNs. Note: the ATO does not assess exemptions from providing TFNs to Services Australia.

Issue a formal request to the customer/partner to complete and return, within 28 days, a Tax File Number Application or Enquiry form:

• NAT 1432 - for Australian residents
• NAT 1589 - for Aboriginals or Torres Strait Islanders
• NAT 2628 - for a non-resident of Australia for tax purposes

Has the Tax File Number Application or Enquiry form (NAT 1432, NAT 1589 or NAT 2628) been returned within 28 days?

• Yes, go to Step 6
• No, and if customer is claiming CSHC, the claim is to be rejected. Procedure ends here

On the day of receipt of the completed Tax File Number Application ensure that:

• the 'office use only' section has been completed
• the application is signed and dated by the applicant
• the customer has correctly completed (if required):
• date of birth
• family name if a partner is specified
• postal and home address, and
• Question 2 authorising the release of the TFN to Services Australia

Service Officers should complete as much of the 'office use only' section as possible, including details of ATO POI sighted. Documents accepted by the agency but not accepted by the ATO should not be listed.

See Requesting a Tax File Number (TFN) for:

• an attachment containing a list of approved ATO POI documents and coding instructions
• information about completing the 'office use only' block

Customer does not have required POI

If the customer does not have the identity documents the ATO needs, ask if they can provide:

• a recent bank statement with their name and address shown
• bank account card
• student ID card

The ATO accepts bank account card (not credit card) as an acceptable document.

If the customer does not have the required identity documents on them, give the form back to the customer. Tell them to bring the form back with all required identity documents.

The ATO does not have a separate POI process for customers recently released from prison.

Note: for Tax file number - application or enquiry for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (NAT 1589) form, staff may function as a referee for the customer if they meet all criteria. See Proof of identity reference section on the form. To avoid a conflict of interest, another Service Officer must complete the Office Use Only section.

For Centrelink customers only:

• Record the 'CAT' TFN exemption code (TFN request from ATO) on the TFN screen on the customer's record
• Record details on a DOC including TFN application received and forwarded to the ATO
• Scan the TFN application to the customer's record
• The ATO will provide the TFN within 28 days and will automatically update if this is a first-time registration with the ATO
• If the customer already has a TFN, the ATO will advise of the TFN in writing to the customer

For all applications, on the date of receipt:

• send the original application and certified copies of identity documents to the ATO TFN processing address. For contact details, see Australian Taxation Office (ATO) - tax file numbers

• Go to the TFN screen and code the following fields:
• the customer's TFN in the TFN: field
• record the Source: and DOR: and press [Enter]
• The Auth: field will default to 'Y'
• If the customer has a partner, repeat the above steps for their TFN details
• If the customer is:
• claiming CSHC, go to Step 9
• providing their partner's TFN following notification of commencing a relationship, go to Step 10

See Assessing Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) claims for further information. Procedure ends here.

• Go to the TFN screen and code the following fields:
• the customer's TFN in the TFN: field
• record the Source: and DOR: and press [Enter]
• The Auth: field will default to 'Y'
• Complete the activity