Apply for the Graduate program
Find out about how to apply for our Graduate program.
On this page:
Application process
- Applications open
- Lodge your application
- Your application will be received by us
- Your application will be reviewed by us
- You will be informed if you have progressed to the next stage
- You will then be assessed online and face-to-face
- We will make a preliminary decision (progression or rejection)
- We will undertake final checks
- Successful applicants will receive their offer
ATO Graduate recruitment timeline

When to lodge
- We accept Graduate program applications once a year.
- Applications for the 2020 Graduate program are now closed.
- Late applications are not accepted.
Lodging your application
When completing the online application you will be asked to provide your:
- personal information
- details of your qualifications including your current academic transcript (as an attachment – maximum 3MB)
- statement verifying recognition of your qualifications if you have overseas qualifications (as an attachment – maximum 3MB).
Tips:
- have this information ready when you start your application
- save your application regularly to ensure you don't lose any data (the page will time out if inactive for more than 30 minutes)
- a resume and details of referees will be requested at a later stage if you progress through the assessments.
How to lodge
Applications for the 2020 Graduate program are now closed.
Once you've lodged your online application, you'll receive an email confirmation. If you don't receive an acknowledgment email, you can check it has been received by logging in to eRecruitment and selecting My profile then View emails.
After you lodge your application, you'll be able to log in to e-Recruitment and update your personal and referee details at any time. However, you will not be able to change any other details in your application.
Note: If there are significant issues that affect the information in your application, email us at EntryLevelPrograms@ato.gov.au
Reviewing your application
Once you've lodged your application, we will keep you updated about your progress via email.
We assess the eligibility of candidates to undertake the graduate program.
You will receive an email advising of your application status after it has been assessed.
Assessment activities
The assessment activities consist of three stages including:
- a workplace simulation exercise
- a video interview
- an assessment centre including a group activity, a presentation and a behavioural interview designed to further assess your suitability and interest in the ATO Graduate program.
You will need to perform strongly in each assessment in order to progress to the next stage.
Preliminary decision
At this point, your performance from all assessment stages of the process will be reviewed and your suitability determined.
Feedback on your performance in the assessment centre will be available to unsuccessful candidates once the selection process has finished.
Final checks
If your application is successful:
- you will receive a phone call to confirm your availability for the Graduate program – this is not an official offer
- we will confirm you are or will be an Australian citizenExternal Link by 30 January 2020
- we will conduct a number of pre-employment checks – any offer of employment will be subject to the results of the enquiries being satisfactory
- you will need to have a satisfactory integrity check that will be carried out before you start working with us. An integrity check involves checking police records, confirming your identity and asking you to complete a declaration of secrecy form and compliance with tax and superannuation obligations. Additional checks may also be necessary
- you may also need a formal security clearance assessment if the work requires you to have access to classified material.
Offers
We anticipate making offers of employment from September 2019.
After we have confirmed your availability and have obtained a satisfactory integrity check, we will send you a formal offer.
You must provide us with evidence of your completed, conferred or awarded university educational qualifications prior to 31 December 2019. We plan to start the program in early February 2020.
Note: You will not be able to defer your start date to later in the year, or to subsequent years.
Find out how to apply for the 2020 ATO Graduate program. Applications open 28 February 2019, and close on 28 March 2019.