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To access a VET Student Loan, you’ll need to have a Tax File Number (TFN) because repayment of the loan is managed through the Australian tax system.
When you apply for a VET Student Loan you will need to supply your TFN through the Electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF) (part 17). This is the only time you should provide your TFN in association with your VET Student Loan. The eCAF is a secure platform that ensures that only individuals who are authorised by law can sight your TFN.
Do not include your TFN in any emails, correspondence or enquiries with either your provider or the department under any circumstances. Remember, your TFN should be treated like a bank PIN. It is your personal reference number in the tax and superannuation system. Make sure you understand the purpose of any documents or electronic forms that ask you to provide your TFN.
If you suspect your TFN has been stolen or accessed by an unauthorised third party, you must report this to the ATO as soon as possible.
13.1 - I have applied, but don’t have my TFN yet
If you do not have a TFN but have applied for one, you are still able apply for a VET Student Loan. When you complete your eCAF (part 17) you will need to upload your Certificate of Application for a TFN. This certificate is available from the ATO after you have applied for your TFN. You can also upload a copy of the online application summary and barcode receipt issued by Australia Post.
Once you receive your TFN, you will need to contact your course provider so they can open your eCAF and put it into ‘revision status’ for you. You will then be able to enter your TFN into your eCAF and re-submit it.
Please remember that you will need to submit your TFN in your eCAF as soon as you receive it (part 17). If you don’t, you will not be able to access a VET Student Loan for that study period.
13.2 - Making sure your TFN details are correct
When your application for a VET Student Loan is processed, the ATO will check the details you gave for your TFN (your full name and date of birth) against your enrolment details.
If the details you’ve given the ATO don’t exactly match the ones on your enrolment, your application for a VET Student Loan will be cancelled. If this happens, you may need to pay your tuition fees upfront to your course provider.
For example, your VET Student Loan application will be rejected if:
- you’ve given your name as ‘Jess Smith’ on your enrolment but as ‘Jessica Smith’ for your TFN
- the address you’ve given for your TFN (or updated with the ATO) is different from the one on your enrolment.
Make sure your enrolment application details are exactly the same as your details listed in your myGov account.
If your provider tells you that your details don’t match and you need to update them, make sure you do this as soon as possible.
13.3 - Using someone else’s TFN
You can’t use anyone else’s TFN when you apply for a VET Student Loan. Your compulsory repayments will be calculated based on your own income, so using someone else’s TFN is against the rules.
If a relative or friend would like to help you pay some of your tuition fees so that you have a smaller or no debt, they can either:
- make an upfront payment to your course provider, or
- make a voluntary repayment (part 11) on your debt to the ATO.