Loading
_SpeedBird(Enthusiast)Enthusiast
17 Jan 2021

Hi ATO,

My question is two fold.

1. I departed Australia just over six months ago with my wife and reside in Europe. Due to the pandamic, I left my job in Australia and moved to Europe and living with my wife and her family. I am still unemployed and waiting for my residency permit over in an EU country to start work.

My questions are: Do I need to declare my self as a non - resident for tax purposes or continue to be one until I find future employment?

I also have an HECS loan I have been repaying and want to keep repaying. How to I make these payment once I am employed overseas? (I have notified the ATO that I left the country and planned on residing overseas - more than 183 days).

2. Superannuation- When I logged on to mygov my one of my acounts are not showing up. Why is that? The account in question AMP, a few months ago changed its supper plan due to a change over (Something to do with their restructure) and also moved me to a different account since I am no longer employed. How do I make mygov show me my balance on this account?

If I am not returning to Australia for along time can I cash my superout and pay my HECS with it?

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.

2,737 views
21 replies
2,737 views
21 replies

Most helpful response

Most helpful replyATO Certified Response

BlakeATO(Community Support)Community Support
ATO Certified Response18 Jan 2021

Hi @SpeedBird,

Your employment, or whether you're out of the country, aren't the only things which impact your residency status. You'll need to use the residency tests to confirm your residency status for tax purposes.

How you make HELP repayments will depend on whether they're compulsory repayments or voluntary ones.

For compulsory repayments, if your worldwide income is more than $11,470 AUD, you'll need to report your worldwide income. If you need to make a compulsory repayment, we'll send you the payment details.

For voluntary repayments, nothing changes - you use the same methods as before.

For payment options, see how to pay. You can get your payment reference number through your online services:

    • scroll to Loan Accounts
    • select the name of the loan account
    • select Voluntary payment
    • select BPAY.

    Regarding your superannuation, your fund is only required to report your balance to us once per year. This means that the accounts you hold may not reflect the right funds, number of accounts, or balances for a while. Rest assured, they will report it to us, it will just take time to reflect on your online services. In the meantime, your fund likely has its own online services you can use.

    There are very limited circumstances in which you can access your super early, even if you've left Australia. Superannuation is intended to be used to fund your retirement, whether or not that's in Australia. This means you likely won't be able to access your superannuation to pay off your education loan.

    Hope this helps! :)

    All replies

    Most helpful replyATO Certified Response

    BlakeATO(Community Support)Community Support
    ATO Certified Response18 Jan 2021

    Hi @SpeedBird,

    Your employment, or whether you're out of the country, aren't the only things which impact your residency status. You'll need to use the residency tests to confirm your residency status for tax purposes.

    How you make HELP repayments will depend on whether they're compulsory repayments or voluntary ones.

    For compulsory repayments, if your worldwide income is more than $11,470 AUD, you'll need to report your worldwide income. If you need to make a compulsory repayment, we'll send you the payment details.

    For voluntary repayments, nothing changes - you use the same methods as before.

    For payment options, see how to pay. You can get your payment reference number through your online services:

      • scroll to Loan Accounts
      • select the name of the loan account
      • select Voluntary payment
      • select BPAY.

      Regarding your superannuation, your fund is only required to report your balance to us once per year. This means that the accounts you hold may not reflect the right funds, number of accounts, or balances for a while. Rest assured, they will report it to us, it will just take time to reflect on your online services. In the meantime, your fund likely has its own online services you can use.

      There are very limited circumstances in which you can access your super early, even if you've left Australia. Superannuation is intended to be used to fund your retirement, whether or not that's in Australia. This means you likely won't be able to access your superannuation to pay off your education loan.

      Hope this helps! :)

      Loading
      Moving Overseas | ATO Community