Hi, I want to be an au pair for the first 6 months of me being in Australia. I have found a lovely host family who needs help looking after their 2 children who both have autism. During my stay, I will be helping them with their schooling and general daily tasks / activities (basically taking on a role as a ‘big sister) in exchange for travel/exploring, accommodation, food, and a weekly allowance. They have informed me that as this is a cultural exchange and it is under their discretion how much pocket money I will get then there is no need to have a TFN or pay taxes whilst I am staying with them. Is this correct? I want to note that I will be on a working holiday visa (417) but they don’t qualify for visa extension so I will need to get a job after the first 6 months to stay another year in Australia. Thank you for any advice you can give me as it is all very confusing and conflicting online
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Hi @daviesc23,
That is not quite right. As you will be getting money or benefits in return for work, it is considered income and you will need to apply for a TFN.
Even though it is a cultural exchange and the allowance is your host family's discretion, it counts as money or benefits (food, accommodation, weekly allowance) in return for work (helping with schooling, general tasks and activities). We've got some extra info on our working holiday maker page that can help clear up some details for you.
Hi, I have looked on the link that you provided and I couldn't find anything specifically about Au pairs. Is it ok to pay pocket money that is below the minimum wage if the aupair has free accommodation and food and is only helping out occassionally? If so, how is the tax determined? Would they just put down the total amount they are paid, and because it is below the threshold they won't end up paying anything? Would they need to estimate the value of food and accommodation and also record that? If they do need to estimate the value of food and accommodation would the total amount plus the pocket money need to be higher than the minimum hourly wage? ...... I am confused, I think if it matches the definition of cultural exchange then it shouldn't be taxed? or if it is taxed then it should be necessary to pay minimum wage? If it is necessary to pay the minimum wage, is food and accommodation taken into account? Very hard to find anything clear for Au pairs! thanks! I thought that on the fair work site it is counted as cultural exchange and not work? Or is it always work?
Here is the link to the fair work site https://library.fairwork.gov.au/viewer/?krn=K600086
It is very unclear what the limit is for work vs cultural exchange.....
One final question, could the au pair normally be doing cultural exchange (hardly work at all most weeks) but be paid occasionally for work, such as if the parents really need help a particular week. I know many foreign students and several people who may want to hire an au pair.
..... thanks!
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