SuperCheck AU
2026–27 working holiday maker rates

Working holiday tax refund calculator

On a 417 or 462 visa? Enter your income and the tax your employers withheld to estimate your refund — and see the common reasons backpackers get money back.

How working holiday tax works

Working holiday makers are taxed under special rates — 15% from the very first dollar, with no tax-free threshold:

  • $0 – $45,000: 15%
  • $45,001 – $135,000: 30%
  • $135,001 – $190,000: 37%
  • $190,001+: 45%

Registered employers withhold 15% as they pay you, so many backpackers assume there's nothing to claim back. Often there is — see the FAQ below for the three most common refund sources.

How to lodge for free

  1. Create a myGov account and link the ATO (do this while you're still in Australia — it's much harder from overseas).
  2. From 1 July, your income statement pre-fills automatically from your employers' payroll reporting.
  3. Lodge with myTax — free, online, about 30 minutes. Add any work-related deductions with receipts.
  4. Refunds are typically paid within 2 weeks to your Australian bank account.

Don't forget the other refund

Your tax refund is only half the money. Your employers also paid 12% superannuation on top of your wages — claim it when you leave with our DASP refund calculator, and first check they actually paid it with the super underpayment calculator.

Frequently asked questions

›When can I lodge my tax return?

The Australian financial year runs 1 July to 30 June. You can lodge from 1 July until 31 October for the year just ended. If you're leaving Australia permanently before 30 June, you may be able to lodge early once you've stopped working.

›My employer already withheld 15%. Why would I get a refund?

Three common reasons: (1) you have work-related deductions (tools, uniforms, courses, some travel) which reduce taxable income; (2) your employer wasn't registered as a working holiday maker employer, so they withheld at higher foreign-resident rates (often 30%+) — the difference comes back at tax time; (3) tax was withheld at the wrong rate, which is common with multiple jobs.

›I'm an international student, not a working holiday maker. Do these rates apply to me?

Usually not. Students staying in Australia for more than 6 months are generally Australian tax residents, which means the first $18,200 is tax-free and lower rates apply — often producing much bigger refunds than working holiday makers get. Use the ATO's resident tax calculator for your situation.

›I heard some working holiday makers can get taxed at resident rates. Is that true?

In limited cases, yes. Following a High Court decision (Addy v Commissioner of Taxation), working holiday makers from countries with a non-discrimination clause in their tax treaty with Australia — including the UK, Germany, Japan, Chile, Finland, Norway, Turkey and Israel — who are also Australian tax residents may be entitled to resident tax rates, including the tax-free threshold. If that's you, it can mean a substantially bigger refund; check the ATO's guidance.

›Do I need a tax agent?

No. You can lodge for free using myTax through myGov. Agents charge $70–$150+ for a simple working holiday return. An agent can make sense if your situation is complicated (ABN work, multiple visa types in one year, treaty questions), but the maths is the same either way.

›What about my superannuation — is that part of the tax refund?

No, super is separate. Your employer pays 12% super on top of wages, and you claim it back through a different process (DASP) after you permanently leave Australia. Use our DASP calculator to estimate that payout.