Departing Australia: Claim your Tax and Super Refund NOW not LATER!

1. Departing Australia: Claim your Tax and Super Refund NOW not LATER! Posted on 07 August 2018 If you worked in Australia, chances are you are eligible for a super refund. However, every year $18 billion in lost super are waiting to be claimed. Don’t forget yours! Many backpackers, students, and New Zealand citizens wonder what a super refund is and whether they can claim it back. It’s not as hard as you think! If you need help with your super refund, read on to know whether you are entitled to this or not. What is a superannuation? Anyone working in Australia who earned more than $450 per calendar month accumulates 9.5% of their wages to be paid into a superannuation fund by their employer. This is fully shouldered by your employer and is reflected in your payslip every month. If you don’t have a super fund yet, your employer usually nominates this for you. However, you can also direct your employer to contribute into your existing super fund. Either way, you need to know your super fund name and member number if you want to claim your super refund later on.

2. Who can claim their super? Departing Australia Superannuation Refund or DASP is another term of super refund. It also describes what a super refund is. Basically, if you are departing Australia, you can claim your super early. Usually, backpackers are the ones claiming back their super refunds since they are on a temporary visa and they will leave Australia once their visa expires. However, it is a common misconception that only backpackers can claim back their super. Generally, you can claim a DASP if the following apply: you accumulated superannuation while working in Australia on a temporary resident visa issued under the Migration Act 1958 (excluding Subclasses 405 and 410) your visa has ceased to be in effect (for example, it has expired or been cancelled) you have left Australia you are not an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or a permanent resident of Australia. So, not only backpackers can claim their super refund but also anyone on a temporary visa (who is neither an Australian or New Zealander) who worked in Australia and subsequently left the country because their visa expired or was cancelled. This includes those working while on student visa, sponsorship visa, and all visas other than those with permanent residency. When can I claim my super? Now! You can get started with your super claim while you’re still in Australia. In fact, this is the best time to get started! Don’t get me wrong, your super claim can only be lodged when you leave Australia and your visa is either expired or cancelled. However, you need to sort out some things before you leave your super here or else, you may not be able to claim it back ever! Put your super in one basket! First, you need to gather your super fund names and member number. If you worked for more than one employer in Australia, chances are you also have more than one super. If you have more than one super, it would be best if you roll over your super first before you lodge your claim. Rollover means to consolidate your balances into one super fund. It is ideal that you do this before leaving because you can save on super claim service fees. Also, note that if you have more than one super fund, you will be charged the administration and insurance fees multiple times. This means if you leave your super fund in Australia, it may be down to zero once you return or when you decide to claim. Your super will also be considered lost if your super fund is idle and unclaimed within 6-12 months from departing Australia. This can vary depending on your super fund.

3. Do I need to post documents to claim my super? In order to process your claim, your super fund may require documents such as a certified ID and third party authorisation so your tax agent to claim your super once you leave. Not all super funds require this, so ask us first before your lodge. If you sort out your super claim before you depart Australia, our registered tax agents can certify your ID and third party authority if you just drop by any of our offices. We will post this to your super fund for free! If you’re not near our office, don’t worry! You can certify and post the ID and third party authority from wherever you are in Australia to your super fund’s PO box address. This will ensure your claim will be quick and hassle-free once you leave. If you lodge your super claim from overseas, it may be difficult to find someone to certify your documents and you may need to pay more for the certification and postage. However, note again that some super funds do not require these additional documents so it’s better lodge on our site so our tax agent can assess this for you. Ready to claim your super? If you’re departing soon, you can apply for your departing tax and super refund now while you’re still in Australia. For tax, just prepare your payment summary and Tax File Number. For super, just prepare your super fund name, super member number, and visa grant notice. Then go to our site, apply in 5 minutes and our dedicated tax agents will make sure your super refund will be easy and hassle-free! Claim Your Tax Back Now! Claim Your Super Back Now!