First Job Money Checklist for Australians

General information only. This article doesn't take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs, and isn't financial, tax or credit advice. Consider whether it's appropriate for you and, where relevant, read the PDS and TMD and talk to a licensed financial adviser or registered tax agent. Figures were checked against official sources on the date shown and can change.

The short version

Get your tax file number (TFN) from the ATO before you start. It's free to apply, and it's yours for life.
Fill in your TFN declaration, tell your employer where to pay your super, and give them your bank details.
Check every payslip: hours, pay rate, tax withheld and super. Since 1 July 2026, super should be paid every payday.
Do a simple budget from your first pay, and start a small savings habit, even if it's tiny.

Your first job is exciting. It's also when a pile of new words lands on you at once: TFN, super, tax-free threshold, payslip, PAYG.

This first job money checklist walks through what to sort out, roughly in the order you'll need it. It's written for Australian employees, including part-time and casual workers. Contractors with an ABN should check the ATO's separate guidance.

1. Get your tax file number (TFN)

Moneysmart is blunt about it: you'll need a TFN to get your first job. Your TFN is a number the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) gives you, and you apply for it through the ATO.

It's free. The ATO says it is free to apply for a TFN, and Australian residents can apply at any age. You don't need to pay anyone to get one.
How to apply. The ATO says the fastest way is online using a Digital ID, such as myID. You can also apply at Australia Post, at a Services Australia centre, or by post.
It's yours for life. You keep the same TFN even if you change jobs or name, move interstate or go overseas, so you only do this once.
Keep it private. Only give your TFN to people who need it, such as your employer, your super fund, your bank and the ATO. Don't post it, text it around or include it on a resume.

2. Fill in the new-starter forms

When you start, your employer will ask for three things, according to myGov: your TFN, your super fund details and your bank account details (account name, BSB and account number).

The TFN declaration

The TFN declaration tells your employer how much tax to take out of your pay. myGov notes that if you don't complete one, your employer may withhold more tax. The ATO is stricter: if you don't provide your TFN (or claim an exemption), your employer must withhold tax at the top rate. If you've applied but don't have it yet, you have 28 days to give it to your employer, who withholds at the standard rate in the meantime. You can complete it online in ATO online services through myGov (under Employment, then New employment), on paper, or on your employer's own electronic form if it has one.

Two questions on the form trip people up:

"Do you want to claim the tax-free threshold from this payer?" Most Australian residents with one job answer yes. If you have two jobs at the same time, it's usually only one of them. Our guide to the tax-free threshold with two jobs explains how to choose.
The study loan question. If you have a HECS-HELP or other study loan, answer yes, so your employer can withhold extra to cover your compulsory repayments. Our HECS-HELP guide covers how repayments work.

3. Set up your super

Super is money saved for your retirement, paid by your employer on top of your wages. Moneysmart says your employer usually must put a minimum of 12% of your pay into a super account for you. If you're under 18, you need to work more than 30 hours in a week to get it.

What happens if you don't pick a fund? myGov explains that your employer will still pay your super, either into your stapled super fund (an existing account that follows you from job to job) or, if you don't have one yet, into their nominated default fund.

If you're eligible to choose, you tell your employer using the ATO's superannuation standard choice form. This guide doesn't recommend any fund. Moneysmart suggests comparing five things: investment options, long-term performance, fees and costs, insurance and services. The ATO's free YourSuper comparison tool compares MySuper products side by side.

Payday Super: check it lands

From 1 July 2026, under the new Payday Super rules, your employer must pay your super at the same time as your wages. Moneysmart says payments should reach your super account within 7 business days of payday.

Set up your super fund's online login or app and check it after a few paydays. If a payment is missing, Moneysmart suggests asking your employer when and where they paid it, then reporting it to the ATO if it isn't sorted. Our super check-up covers the rest.

4. Check every payslip

The Fair Work Ombudsman says payslips have to be given to you within 1 working day of pay day, on paper or electronically. Moneysmart says your payslip shows:

how much you earned for each hour of work
how much your employer has put into your super account
any money taken out for tax
your gross pay (before tax) and net pay (what lands in your bank account).

Not sure if your rate is right? The Fair Work Ombudsman's free Pay and Conditions Tool shows minimum pay rates, penalty rates and allowances for your award. If you're award and agreement free, the National Minimum Wage applies: the Fair Work Ombudsman says that as of 1 July 2026 it's $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week. Casuals are also paid either a casual loading or a specific casual pay rate, and your payslip should show it.

Warning signs Moneysmart lists include not getting a payslip and being paid cash in hand without one. Your employer also has to give you a Fair Work Information Statement before or soon after you start. If you're not getting payslips, the Fair Work Ombudsman suggests asking your employer first, and its website explains how to get help if they don't fix it.

5. Understand how tax comes out of your pay

Your employer takes tax out of each pay and sends it to the ATO for you. Moneysmart says this is called Pay As You Go (PAYG) withholding.

Tax works on a sliding scale. Here are the 2026-27 rates for Australian residents aged 18 and over, as published by Moneysmart (they don't include the 2% Medicare levy):

Taxable income	Tax on this income
$0 to $18,200	Nil
$18,201 to $45,000	15c for each $1 over $18,200
$45,001 to $135,000	$4,020 plus 30c for each $1 over $45,000
$135,001 to $190,000	$31,020 plus 37c for each $1 over $135,000
$190,001 and over	$51,370 plus 45c for each $1 over $190,000

Different rates apply if you're under 18, a foreign resident or a working holiday maker, so check the ATO for those. The first $18,200 is the tax-free threshold, which is why that TFN declaration question matters.

Moneysmart's example: on $60,000 of taxable income in 2026-27, the tax (before the Medicare levy) is $0 on the first $18,200, $4,020 on the next $26,800 and $4,500 on the last $15,000, for a total of $8,520. Tax offsets can reduce what you actually pay, and Moneysmart's free income tax calculator estimates your own take-home pay.

6. Lodge your first tax return

After 30 June, most people need to lodge a tax return. Moneysmart says that if you're doing your own tax, you have until 31 October to lodge.

myTax is free. It's the ATO's online tax return. You need a myGov account linked to the ATO, and most employer and bank information is pre-filled by late July. Check it and add anything missing.
Free help. If your income is around $70,000 or less, you may be eligible for the ATO's free Tax Help program, which runs from July to October each year.

7. Make a plan for your pay

This is the step that actually changes your future. Moneysmart's checklist ends with two simple habits: do a budget and have a savings mindset, no matter how small the amount.

Budget from your first pay. Work out what comes in and what goes out. A simple three-bucket budget is an easy way to start.
Automate a small saving. Even a few dollars each payday, moved straight to a separate account, builds the habit. See how bonus interest works.
Start an emergency fund. A small buffer for car repairs, a broken phone or a quiet week of shifts keeps you off credit. See how much emergency fund you need.

Your first job money checklist

Apply for a TFN through the ATO (it's free)
Create a myGov account and link it to the ATO
Complete your TFN declaration (tax-free threshold and study loan questions)
Choose a super fund, or know which one your employer is paying into
Give your employer your bank account name, BSB and account number
Check your first payslip: hours, rate, tax withheld, super
Log in to your super fund after a few paydays to check payments arrived
Set up a simple budget and an automatic transfer to savings
Diary 31 October for your first tax return

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a TFN before I start my first job?

Moneysmart says you'll need a TFN to get your first job. It's free to apply through the ATO, and you keep the same TFN for life. If you've applied but don't have it yet, the ATO says you have 28 days to give it to your employer, who withholds at the standard rate in the meantime. After that, or if you don't provide it at all, your employer must withhold at the top rate.

How much super should my employer pay in my first job?

Moneysmart says your employer usually must pay a minimum of 12% of your pay into your super account, on top of your wages. If you're under 18, you need to work more than 30 hours in a week to be entitled to it. From 1 July 2026, under Payday Super, it must be paid at the same time as your wages and should reach your fund within 7 business days.

What if I don't choose a super fund?

Your employer still pays your super. According to myGov, it goes into your stapled super fund (an existing account that follows you between jobs) if you have one, or otherwise into your employer's nominated default fund.

When will I get my payslip?

The Fair Work Ombudsman says payslips have to be given to employees within 1 working day of pay day. They can be paper or electronic, and should show things like your pay rate, hours, gross and net pay, deductions and super contributions.

Do I need to lodge a tax return after my first job?

Most people who earn income need to lodge a tax return after 30 June. Moneysmart says that if you do your own tax, you have until 31 October, and you can lodge for free with the ATO's myTax through a myGov account linked to the ATO.

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Sources

Checked on 12 October 2026. Official sources are updated regularly, so follow the links for the latest figures.

Important information

This article provides general information only. It is not financial, tax, legal or credit advice and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether it is appropriate for you, read the relevant PDS and TMD before acquiring any financial product, and consider seeking advice from a licensed financial adviser or registered tax agent. BARBAR is not a licensed financial adviser and does not recommend any particular financial product, fund or provider. Examples are illustrative only, not predictions or promises. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of capital, and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Rates, thresholds and rules change, so check the linked official sources for current information.

First Job Money Checklist: TFN, Super, Payslips and Your First Budget (Australia)