About franking credits
When you own shares or non-share equity interests in a company or when you invest in a managed fund, you might receive dividend distributions.
Dividends you receive from Australian companies and some New Zealand companies are taxed under a system known as imputation. The tax the company pays is allocated (or imputed) to you as franking credits attached to the dividends you receive.
Certain interests which aren't shares are treated in a similar way to shares for tax law purposes. These interests are called non-share equity interests.
When you get a franking credit refund
You can claim a tax refund if the franking credits you receive exceed the tax you have to pay. This is a refund of excess franking credits.
You can claim the refund of the franking credits in the income year you receive payment or credit of the dividends. Your statement shows this information regardless of the income year the statement relates to. You also need to declare the dividend as income in the same income year.
You may receive a refund of the full amount of franking credits you receive, even if you don’t usually lodge a tax return.
Follow the Instructions to complete your refund of franking credits application. If you need help contact Tax Help.
Who should use the application for refund of franking credits
Check if you can use this application for a refund of franking credits. All the statements below relate to the income year 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.
To use the application for a refund of franking credits, you need to meet all the following criteria:
- You don't need to lodge a tax return (see Do I need to lodge a tax return?).
- You're an Australian resident for tax purposes for the whole of 2024–25 (see Were you an Australian resident for the whole period of 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025).
- You're not claiming a refund of franking credits for a deceased estate.
- Your total dividend income was either
- $18,200 or less
- $416 or less, if you were under 18 years old on 30 June 2025.
- You either
- receive dividends from shares (or non-share equity interests) in an Australian or New Zealand company
- have an entitlement to distributions from investments in a managed fund.
- Your dividend or distribution statement shows either
- franking credits – statements from New Zealand companies must show Australian franking credits (New Zealand imputation credits don't qualify)
- amounts withheld from your dividends because you didn't provide your tax file number (TFN).
If you don’t meet all the above criteria, you'll need to lodge a tax return to claim your franking credits.
Claiming your refund of franking credits
You have the following options to lodge an application for a refund of franking credits.
You can apply for your refund of franking credits in 2024–25 any time after 1 July 2025, by:
- using ATO Online services through myGov
- using a registered tax agent
- using our self-help phone services
- post – you need a copy of the application form, see Get the application for refund of franking credits.
For more information on the lodgment options, see How to apply for a refund of franking credits.
You'll need all your dividend and distribution statements for 1 July 2024 – 30 June 2025. For help completing the application, see Instructions to complete your refund of franking credits application.
Claiming franking credits from prior income years
If you have franking credits from a prior income year, you can claim these online or by post. See Claiming your refund of franking credit.
You can't use phone lodgment for prior income year applications.
You can order a Refund of franking credits application and instructions (NAT 4105) for the relevant income years, see How to get the Refund of franking credits application 2025.
Continue to: Common questions about franking credits and refunds
Return to: How to get the Refund of franking credits application 2025