About requesting a FHSS release
After you have a FHSS determination and are ready to access your FHSS amount, you can then request a release. You must have a FHSS determination before you request a release.
When you request a release, you will need to choose the FHSS determination you are basing your request on and give us the following information:
- the amount you wish to be released. You can request a release of any amount up to the FHSS maximum releasable amount shown on your FHSS determination.
- the super fund or funds that you wish the amount to be released from
- the bank account you wish us to pay your released amount to.
You can only submit one FHSS release request, so it's important to include the total amount you wish to release. If you change your mind before we process your FHSS payment, you may be able to cancel or amend your request. However, once we begin processing your FHSS payment, you won’t be able to cancel or amend, even if your original request was for a lower amount.
When to request the release
You can make a release request either:
- before you sign a property contract
- within a limited period of time after signing a contract
- if your FHSS determination was made on or after 15 September 2024, you should make a release request within 90 days of signing the contract
- if you make a valid release request after signing your contract and outside of this timeframe, you'll be subject to FHSS tax.
If you make a mistake or don’t wish to proceed
To change or cancel your release request:
- log in to ATO online services through myGov
- select Super, then Manage, then First home saver.
We won't be able to take any action to correct any mistakes or to stop your release request after we have started processing amounts your super fund sends to us. If you're unable to make changes in ATO online services, this may be because we have started processing amounts.
The time allowed to make changes to your request will vary, depending on when your super fund sends your FHSS amount to us.
After you make your release request, it may take between 15 and 20 business days for you to receive your money. You should consider this timing when you start your home buying activities.
We will notify you in writing once your super fund has either:
- released the amount requested to us (fully or partially)
- informed us it was unable to be released.
Previous unsuccessful requests to request a release
Changes to the first home super saver (FHSS) scheme which came into effect on 15 September 2024 may now allow some individuals, who were previously unsuccessful in releasing amounts under the FHSS scheme, to access eligible amounts.
If you attempted to use the FHSS scheme between 1 July 2018 and 14 September 2024 and didn't receive an FHSS amount, you can find out if you are now eligible to access an FHSS amount.