International Students

• Why La Trobe
• Courses and research
• Apply and accept
• Fees, scholarships & loans
• Predeparture and arrival
• Accommodation & life in Australia
• Education Abroad programs
• Student life and services
  • Programs and activities
  • Support services
  • Leaving La Trobe
    • Ready Set Go!
    • Results, transcripts and graduation
    • Withdrawal and intermission
    • Returning home checklist
    • Packing up
    • Alumni
    • Tax, superannuation and bank accounts
    • Visas
• Contact La Trobe International

Tax returns

If you've worked in Australia and had income tax deducted from your wages, make sure you apply for an income tax refund before you leave Australia by lodging a Tax Return. You can also apply for a refund if you've had tax withheld on bank account interest i.e. if you didn't supply your bank with your Tax File Number.

Overseas students who are enrolled in a course that is more than 6 months are generally treated as Australian residents for tax purposes.

For students who worked in Australia and who are returning home Taxation Returns can be 'lodged' by:

1. Hard copy Taxation Return
   Once you have received your final Payment Summary from your employer (and interest advice, if applicable) you can lodge a hard copy taxation return using the form in the TaxPack which can be sourced from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
   
   
2. Electronic Taxation Return.
   Download the e-tax form from the Australian Taxation Office website and follow the prompts to lodge online.
   

Note that any refunds you are entitled to can only be paid into an Australian bank account, not into overseas bank accounts. Cheques can be posted overseas but they will be in Australian dollars. The Australian Taxation Office has reciprocal taxation arrangements with most countries, so that your Australian income can be included with income received from your home country.

Superannuation

Superannuation is a way of saving for retirement. Your employer may have made legally required superannuation payments into a "super" fund on your behalf. As temporary residents, international students who have worked in Australia are eligible to access their superannuation once they permanently depart Australia. Instructions are available from the ATO website.

Australian bank accounts

• Closing your Account
  In order to close your account, you should visit your local branch and they can pay out your final balance over the counter.  If you are not able to visit a branch, you can generally notify the bank in writing that you want to close your account. Include the details of how you want the remaining balance paid out to you (transferred to another account, cheque, TTF etc) with all relevant details. This letter should be sent to the branch where you opened your account. To get the fax or postal details of your branch, call your bank on the number below.
  
  Don’t forget to stop any automatic deductions that come from this account such as bills, rent or loan repayments. If you don’t cancel these payments, you will usually be charged a dishonour fee.
  
  If you decide that you want to keep your account open, there are a few points to consider:
  

• Fees
  Most banks charge monthly fees to keep your account open. You may have had these fees waived while you were a student at La Trobe, but now that you have finished studying, the bank will start charging these fees. If you do not have much money in your account these fees can reduce your balance to $0.00 and your account will be closed. Some banks offer accounts that do not have monthly account keeping fees. You should contact your bank to find out if they have an account that suits your needs.
  

• Dormancy
  If you do not use your account for a certain length of time your account is made dormant. This means that the account is closed, a one-off dormancy fee is charged and your money is transferred to a ‘lost monies’ account. The time allowed before this happens varies depending on the bank, but is usually 6 to 12 months. If this happens, you will need to contact your bank to find out how to retrieve the funds.
  

• Internet/Telephone Banking
  Most banks allow you to manage your account via telephone or over the internet. You will need to register before you can use this facility. In most cases you can register over the phone or in person at your local branch (National Australia Bank customers will need to register for phone banking first and then register for internet banking over the phone).
  

• Change of Address
  Regardless of whether you decide to close your account or not, make sure you advise the bank of your address in your home country to be sure that you don’t miss any important information. Most banks will send statements overseas, but some will not send replacement cards to foreign addresses. If you have reliable friends or family that live in Australia, you may want to use their address and ask them to forward your mail to you in your home country.
  

• Using bank cards overseas
  Most banks’ debit cards can be used overseas.  However, there are restrictions on which ATMs you are able to use. For example, Commonwealth Bank cards with the Cirrus or Maestro logo on the back can only be used at ATMs that also display these logos. Transaction fees are significantly higher for overseas transactions.
  
  Credit cards such as Visa or MasterCard are accepted more widely than regular bank cards. Most credit cards charge a conversion fee for each transaction. Contact your bank for details.