Work out your residency status for tax purposes
Use these tools and instructions to help work out your residency status for tax purposes.
On this page
Go to the tool
Choose the right tool depending on your situation.
Are you a resident? decision tool
If you have come to Australia for work purposes or to live use our Are you a resident? decision tool. It will take between 5 and 10 minutes to use.
Are you a resident? decision toolResidency status when leaving Australia decision tool
If you have been living in Australia and have left or intend to leave, use our Determination of residency status – leaving Australia decision tool. It will take between 5 and 10 minutes to use.
Determination of residency status – leaving Australia decision toolWhat you can do with the tools
You need to work out if you are a resident for tax purposes in the relevant income year so you can fill out your tax return for that year correctly.
Your residency status for tax purposes may be different from your residency status for other purposes. We don't use the same rules as the Department of Home Affairs.
The tool results are based on the information you provide. If your circumstances change you should use it with the updated details. You should use the results for guidance purposes only.
Common situations
We've listed some common residency and tax situations. Tax residency can also depend on whether the country you are going to or coming from has a tax treaty with Australia, so check this also.
Are you a resident for tax purposes?
If you:
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You are generally:
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leave Australia temporarily and do not set up a permanent home in another country
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an Australian resident for tax purposes
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are an overseas student enrolled in a course that is more than six months long at an Australian institution
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an Australian resident for tax purposes
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are visiting Australia, working and living in the one location and have taken steps to make Australia your home
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an Australian resident for tax purposes
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are visiting Australia and for most of that time you are travelling and working in various locations around Australia
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a foreign resident for tax purposes
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are either holidaying in Australia or visiting for less than 6 months
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a foreign resident for tax purposes
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migrate to Australia and intend to reside here permanently
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an Australian resident for tax purposes
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leave Australia permanently
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treated as a foreign resident for tax purposes from the date of your departure
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What else you can do
You can manually work out your tax residency using the residency tests.
You may need to declare some or all of your income if you're:
If you're in Australia for a working holiday, see Australian residency if you're on a working holiday or visit.
Our Do I need to lodge a tax returnThis link opens in a new window? tool will help work out if you need to lodge a tax return.
Study and training support loans
If you have a Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) debt, VET Student Loan (VSL) debt or a Trade Support Loan (TSL) debt and you're a non-resident for tax purposes, you'll need to declare your worldwide income or lodge a non-lodgment advice. You can do this using our online services through myGov or through a registered Australian tax agent.
Our Study and training loan repayment calculatorThis link opens in a new window will help you find out your compulsory repayment or overseas levy amounts.
Use these tools and instructions to help work out your residency status for tax purposes.Last modified: 30 Jun 2023QC 33232