Hi, my elderly mother (aged 84) has no record of her TFN. She has not worked for over 20 years, has no superannuation fund, and my late father seems to have destroyed any record of their TFN's. It does not appear on her aged pension documents either. How can I find her number, and if that's not possible, does she even need to create a new one?
A TFN is permanent and stays with a person for life, even if they haven’t worked for decades.
You can call the ATO and request help locating her TFN. They will not give it out without identity checks, but they can confirm it once verified. If you are helping her, you may need to be listed as an authorised contact or go through identity verification with her details.
ATO Individuals line: 13 28 61 (8am–6pm Mon to Fri)
Best to confirm with ATO if this is an option
If calling is not an option, another way might be to apply for TFN again as the TFN application does ask if you had a TFN before and provide some details regarding the TFN etc. Though I think you would need ID documents for proof of identity the same as any other TFN application
Hi @Dina,
It’s always a good idea to keep a TFN somewhere safe and accessible – having it on hand can make future dealings much easier.
It sounds like you’ve already checked the usual spots, so you’ve come to the right place to ask!
If there are no old letters or records to check, the next step is for would be to give us a call (@jadeee has given the right number for this). Once we confirm your mother’s identity, we can check whether a TFN already exists.
If it’s unclear whether Mum ever had one, the best option is to complete a TFN application form. Like @YellowPotato mentioned, the same form can be used both to apply for a TFN and to ask if one is already on record.
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