How Do I Find My Tax File Number? A Simple Guide
Quick answer: If you are asking how do I find my tax file number, check a past notice of assessment, an ATO letter or your super statement, where it is printed. Lodged with Tax Falcon before? Just ask us for it. You can also see it in ATO online services or by phoning the ATO.
Lodging yourself this year? The deadline is Monday 2 November 2026, because 31 October falls on a Saturday. Once you have your TFN, you can start your tax return with Tax Falcon online today. Running short on time? Our Tax Time 2026 key dates guide explains how lodging through a registered tax agent can give you more time.
How Do I Find My Tax File Number Fast?
Start with the places that need no login and no phone queue. Work through these five options in order:
Ask Tax Falcon. If we have lodged a return for you before, contact our team and ask for your TFN. The ATO confirms you can ask your registered tax agent for it.
Check your notice of assessment. Your TFN is printed on the income tax notice of assessment the ATO issues after each return, and on other ATO letters such as a statement of account.
Check your super and pay records. Your superannuation account statement and the payment summary or income statement from your employer also show it.
Sign in to ATO online services. If your myGov account is already linked to the ATO, your TFN is shown there.
Phone the ATO. If nothing above works, the ATO will confirm your TFN once it has verified your identity.
Where to look | What you will need | |
Tax Falcon (past clients) | A quick message to our team | |
Notice of assessment or ATO letter | A copy from a previous year | |
Super statement | A recent statement from your fund | |
Payment summary or income statement | Your employer pay records | |
ATO online services | A myGov account linked to the ATO | |
Phone the ATO | Proof of identity |
Found it? You are one step away from lodging. Start your tax return with Tax Falcon and lodge through a registered tax agent instead of doing it on your own.
Is It Worth Using a Tax Agent Once You Have Your TFN?
For many people, yes, because the agent's fee is tax deductible and you get help claiming what you are entitled to. With Tax Falcon you complete your return online and a registered tax agent lodges it with the ATO for you. You can claim the fee as a cost of managing your tax affairs in next year's return. See how it stacks up in our Tax Falcon vs myTax comparison.
What If I Still Cannot Find My Tax File Number?
Phone the ATO, then come back to Tax Falcon to finish your return. If your TFN is not on any document and you are not set up in ATO online services, the ATO will help once your identity is confirmed. Never guess a TFN or put a made-up number on a form. If the deadline passes while you wait, the ATO can apply a failure to lodge penalty, so start your return with us as soon as you have it.
What Should I Do If My TFN Has Been Lost or Stolen?
Report it to the ATO as soon as possible. If your TFN has been lost or stolen, or you think someone else has used it, phone the ATO's Client Identity Support Centre on 1800 467 033, between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday. They can help secure your record and confirm your identity.
Do I Need to Apply for a New TFN If I Cannot Find Mine?
No, you should not apply for a second TFN. You only ever get one tax file number, and applying again can create duplicate records. If you have never had a TFN, see our guide on how to apply for a tax file number in Australia instead.
Why Do I Need My TFN Before I Lodge?
You cannot lodge a tax return without it, and going without one can cost you. Tax Falcon will ask for your TFN when you start your return. Without one, your employer and bank must withhold tax at the highest rate, and you cannot apply for an ABN or most government payments. Sorting it out now saves you overpaying tax in the meantime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my tax agent tell me my tax file number?
Yes. The ATO says you can ask your registered tax agent for your TFN. If Tax Falcon has lodged a return for you before, contact our team and we can help.
How do I find my tax file number if I have never lodged a tax return?
Check your superannuation account statement or the payment summary or income statement from your employer, as both show your TFN. If you still cannot find it, phone the ATO, then lodge your first return with Tax Falcon.
Can I find my tax file number online?
Yes, in ATO online services if your myGov account is linked to the ATO. If it is not linked, it is usually faster to check a past notice of assessment or super statement, or ask your tax agent.
Who can I safely give my tax file number to?
Only give your TFN to organisations that need it, such as the ATO, your employer, your super fund, your bank or a registered tax agent like Tax Falcon. You can check any tax agent on the Tax Practitioners Board register before you share it.
What do I do if someone else has used my tax file number?
Phone the ATO's Client Identity Support Centre on 1800 467 033 as soon as possible, between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday. They can help secure your record and confirm your identity.
Got your TFN? Start your tax return with Tax Falcon today and get it lodged before the Monday 2 November deadline.
Source: ATO, Lost or stolen TFN
