Answer
If a new employee is unsure how to fill in their TFN Declaration, it's important they seek guidance from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Employers should avoid giving personal tax advice or interpreting what an employee should select on the form.
To assist your employee, you can direct them to:
- The ATO's TFN Declaration help page at ato.gov.au/forms/tfn-declaration
- The ATO's individual enquiries line on 13 28 61
Once the employee has completed their declaration, enter the correct details into Lightning Payroll:
- In the desktop app: open the employee record and navigate to Tax Rates >> Tax Settings.
- In the online (web/mobile) app: open the employee record, select Tax Rates, then choose the Tax Settings tab.
These details are reported to the ATO through Single Touch Payroll (STP), meaning there is no need to send the TFN Declaration separately.
For more details on how TFN Declarations are handled in Lightning Payroll, please see our related FAQ: Can I Submit TFN Declarations in Lightning Payroll?
Lightning Payroll provides the tools to store and report tax file number data, but we do not offer tax or financial advice. It is the employee's responsibility to ensure their TFN Declaration is completed correctly, and the employer's responsibility to keep a copy on file.
