Student Tax Return Australia
Get Your Refund Fast, Whether You Are Local or International
Whether you are an Australian student working part-time or an international student on a student visa, you may have a tax return to lodge and a refund waiting. Most students have tax withheld from their wages throughout the year at a rate higher than their actual liability. Lodging a student tax return in Australia is how you get that money back.
We dig deep to claim every dollar you're entitled to—so nothing’s left behind.
Team NextGen is powered by Chartered Accountants and CPAs with deep expertise
Get fast Tax return in your bank account in 7 days*
90% of tax return lodged within 24 hours from tax consultation*
Tax return lodged
Trusted by thousands of Aussies to maximise refunds fast, easy, and stress-free.
- DO YOU NEED TO LODGE A TAX RETURN
Do You Need to Lodge a Student Tax Return in Australia?
Not every student is required to lodge a tax return, but most who worked during the financial year should.
Here is the general rule:
You Should Lodge if...
Your taxable income for the year exceeded $18,200 (the tax-free threshold for Australian residents), you are required to lodge. If your income was below this amount but tax was withheld from your wages by an employer, you should lodge to claim that tax back as a refund.
You May not Need to Lodge if...
You earned no income at all during the financial year and no tax was withheld, you are generally not required to lodge. However, if you are unsure, a free consultation with one of our tax agents will confirm your position in minutes.
- AUSTRALIAN STUDENTS WORKING PART-TIME OR CASUALLY
Australian Students: Part-Time Work, Casual Shifts and Your First Tax Return
If you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident studying at a university, TAFE, or other institution and working part-time or casually alongside your studies, your tax situation is relatively straightforward. You are an Australian resident for tax purposes and entitled to the full tax-free threshold of $18,200.
Your First Tax Return in Australia
ATO financial year runs from 1 July to 30 June. You lodge your return after 30 June for the year just ended. The most common outcome for a student with part-time or casual income is a refund — employers typically withhold tax at a standard rate that doesn’t account for your lower annual income.
What You Can Claim
- Work-related clothing including uniforms and protective gear, and laundry costs.
- Tools and equipment purchased for work and not reimbursed by your employer.
- Work-related phone costs, apportioned to the business-use percentage.
- Travel between two separate workplaces on the same day.
- Self-education expenses if your study is directly related to your current job, not future employment.
- Union fees and professional membership costs.
What You Cannot Claim
- Course fees and HECS-HELP repayments
- Textbooks for general study
- Daily travel from home to your regular workplace
- Study costs leading to a new career (not your current role)
Using a registered tax agent like Tax NextGen extends your lodgement deadline beyond 31 October.
- INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
International Student Tax Return Australia: Visa Type, Residency and What You Owe
A tax return for international students in Australia involves an additional step that domestic students do not face: determining your residency status for tax purposes. This is separate from your immigration status and has a significant effect on how much tax you pay and whether you are entitled to the tax-free threshold.
If you have been in Australia for six months or more on a student visa and intend to remain for a substantial period, you are likely considered an Australian resident for tax purposes. As an Australian tax resident, you are entitled to the $18,200 tax-free threshold and pay tax at resident rates, which are lower than non-resident rates.
As a tax resident, you must declare all Australian-sourced income in your return. Whether you also need to declare overseas income depends on your individual circumstances and visa conditions.
If you are on a short-stay visa, arrived partway through the financial year, or do not meet the residency tests, you may be classified as a non-resident for tax purposes. Non-residents are taxed at higher rates, do not receive the tax-free threshold, and are generally only taxed on Australian-sourced income.
The distinction between resident and non-resident can make a material difference to your refund. Getting this classification wrong, in either direction, results in either overpaying or an ATO liability later.
If you are on a Working Holiday visa (subclass 417 or 462), separate tax rates apply. Working holiday makers are taxed at a flat rate of 15% on the first $45,000 of Australian income, regardless of total earnings. They are not entitled to the tax-free threshold. Our tax agents determine the correct classification for your visa type and ensure your return is lodged accordingly.
Tax NextGen provides multilingual service for international students. If English is not your preferred language, we have consultants available to assist you. Book your consultation and note your language preference when confirming.
Multilingual service available — note your language preference when booking
- HECS-HELP AND STUDY LOAN REPAYMENTS
HECS-HELP, VSL and Study Loan Repayments
If you have a HECS-HELP, VSL, SSL, ABSTUDY SSL, or other government study loan, the ATO calculates compulsory repayment amounts based on your income for the year. Repayments begin once your repayment income exceeds the minimum threshold, which is adjusted annually.
Study loan repayments are not a deduction and are not included in your tax withheld. They are calculated separately as part of your tax return assessment and will appear as an additional amount payable if your income exceeds the threshold. Employers withhold an additional HELP repayment amount from your pay if you have advised them of your loan, but this is a separate withholding from your regular income tax.
Our tax agents ensure your study loan repayment is correctly calculated in your return and that you are not caught off guard by an unexpected liability at assessment time.
- HOW IT WORKS
How to Lodge Your Student Tax Return With Tax NextGen
Step 1
Book a Free Consultation
Select Student Tax Return as your service and choose a time. If you are an international student, note your visa type when booking so we can match you with the right consultant.
Step 2
Speak With a Registered Tax Agent
Our tax agent calls you at the agreed time. For international students, we first determine your residency status, then review your income, employer details, study loan, and all claimable deductions. Typically 15–20 minutes.
Step 3
We Lodge, You Get Your Refund
We prepare your return and walk you through it before lodging. Most student returns are lodged within 24 hours. Your refund typically arrives within 7 business days once the ATO processes your return.*
- WHY TAX NEXTGEN
Why Students Choose Tax NextGen
We handle international student residency correctly
Misclassifying your residency status is the most common and costly error in international student returns. We determine this correctly every time.
We are multilingual
We serve international students in multiple languages. Tax is already confusing enough without the added barrier of doing it in a second language.
We guide first-time lodgers.
If this is your first tax return in Australia, we walk you through every step without jargon. You leave the consultation knowing exactly what has been filed and why.
We are affordable
Student returns are typically straightforward and priced accordingly. We confirm the fee before we start, with no surprises at lodgement.
Fast turnaround
Most student returns are lodged within 24 hours of your consultation. We do not keep you waiting.
- REVIEWS
What Our Clients Say
Many of our student clients return every year and recommend us to friends at their university. Here is what they say.
- FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I need to lodge a tax return if I only worked part-time or casually as a student?
If your income exceeded $18,200 during the financial year, you are required to lodge a tax return. If your income was below this amount but your employer withheld tax from your wages, you should still lodge to claim a refund. Even a few hours of casual work each week can result in more tax being withheld than you actually owe. The only way to get it back is to lodge.
2. Am I an Australian resident for tax purposes as an international student?
This depends on your circumstances, not just your visa type. Generally, if you have been in Australia for six months or more on a student visa with the intention to remain for the duration of your course, you are likely a tax resident. This entitles you to the $18,200 tax-free threshold and lower resident tax rates. Our tax agents assess your residency status accurately as the first step in preparing your return.
3. What is my tax-free threshold and do I get it as an international student?
4. How does HECS-HELP affect my tax return?
If you have a HECS-HELP or other study loan, the ATO calculates a compulsory repayment once your income exceeds the minimum threshold. This is included in your tax return assessment and is separate from the income tax withheld by your employer. If your employer has been withholding an additional HELP repayment amount, this will be credited against your liability. Our tax agents ensure the repayment calculation is correct in your return.
5. Can I claim my course fees or textbooks as a tax deduction?
6. I am on a working holiday visa. How am I taxed?
7. What documents do I need for my student tax return?
Ready to Lodge Your Student Tax Return and Claim Your Refund
Whether it is your first return or your fifth, whether you are local or international, Tax NextGen makes your student tax return in Australia fast, accurate, and completely stress-free. Book a free consultation and find out what you are owed.
No cost to consult. No upfront fee to lodge. Refund typically in 7 business days.*
