How much Super can I get back when leaving Australia?
Febb Borje, a tax professional with 11 years of expat tax experience, specializes in US tax preparation, tax planning, and tax advice for US citizens and Green Card holders living and working in Australia.
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Table of Contents
You get your Super back as a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) equal to your Super balance minus DASP tax and any fund or transfer fees.
If you were a working holiday maker (WHM), the taxable component is generally taxed at 65%. If you were a non-WHM temporary resident, the taxed element is usually taxed at 35% and any untaxed element at 45%. Any tax-free component isn’t taxed. After payment, your fund or the ATO issues a DASP payment summary that shows the gross amount, tax withheld, and your net payout.
What paperwork will you receive?
You’ll receive a DASP payment summary showing components, tax withheld, and the net paid. Keep it for your records and any tax filings in the country where you now live.
How do you actually claim the money?
You apply online through the ATO’s DASP process, often via myGov, after you’ve left Australia and your temporary visa has expired or been cancelled. Some funds accept applications directly, but most claims run through the ATO. Have your passport details, TFN if you have one, fund names and member numbers, and your bank details ready.
What if you had more than one Super account?
You can claim each account. It’s fine if you didn’t consolidate before leaving, though consolidating first can make the steps and fees simpler.
Are there transfer or banking fees to watch for?
Yes. Your fund may charge exit or transfer fees, and your receiving bank may charge inbound fees or apply currency conversion rates. These sit outside DASP tax and can slightly reduce the amount you receive.
Who can claim DASP and who can’t?
Temporary residents who have left Australia and had their visas expire can claim DASP.
You’re generally eligible if all are true:
- You held a temporary resident visa while working in Australia.
- You’ve left Australia.
- Your visa has expired or been cancelled.
Who is not eligible for DASP?
- Australian citizens.
- Australian permanent residents.
- New Zealand citizens.
If you’re in one of these groups, even as a US expat, you generally can’t withdraw Super via DASP. Your Super stays preserved until a standard condition of release is met, such as retirement.
Does a working holiday visa change the tax rate?
Yes. If you were a WHM, the taxable component of your DASP is generally taxed at 65%. This applies even if your account includes different types of taxable elements.
Can permanent residents or citizens get Super back when leaving Australia?
Not through DASP. If you become, or already are, an Australian citizen or permanent resident, DASP isn’t available. Your balance remains in Super until you meet a regular release condition.
Have superannuation funds? Contact us now to manage US tax obligations.
How do I estimate my DASP (WHM vs other visas) and what affects the amount?
Start by confirming your visa type and the makeup of your Super account, then apply the Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) tax to the taxable parts and subtract fees. That gives a practical estimate for anyone asking how much superannuation do I get back when leaving Australia as a US citizen.
What information do I need before I calculate?
You need your visa category when you earned Super, your latest Super balance, and a breakdown of its components: taxed, untaxed, and any tax-free portion. You also need to know if your fund charges an exit or transfer fee and whether you’ll be paid to an overseas account with foreign exchange or bank charges.
Which DASP rates should I use?
- Working holiday makers (WHM): 65% on the taxable component.
- Non-WHM temporary residents: 35% on the taxed element and 45% on the untaxed element.
- Tax-free component: 0% DASP tax.
How do I run a quick estimate?
- Split your balance into taxed, untaxed, and tax-free.
- Apply the correct DASP rate to the taxable amounts based on WHM vs other visas.
- Subtract fund exit or transfer fees.
- If the payment goes overseas, factor in FX spread and inbound bank charges.
Can I see a few examples?
- WHM: AU$10,000 all taxed element → tax AU$6,500 → net about AU$3,500 before fees and FX.
- Non-WHM: AU$10,000 all taxed element → tax AU$3,500 → net about AU$6,500 before fees and FX.
- Mixed non-WHM: AU$8,000 taxed + AU$2,000 untaxed → tax AU$2,800 + AU$900 = AU$3,700 → net about AU$6,300 before fees and FX.
Which visas count as WHM for DASP tax?
Typically subclasses 417 and 462. If you worked under multiple visas, and any of your work was on a WHM visa, your DASP is often taxed using the WHM rate on the taxable component earned under WHM. Check your visa history used while earning Super.
Does the tax-free component help?
Yes. Any tax-free amount is not taxed under DASP, though fees and bank charges can still reduce the payout you receive.
What about having more than one Super fund?
You can claim each account separately. Consolidating before you leave can simplify fees and paperwork, but it is not required.
How do I claim my Super back online through myGov?
What are the basic steps to claim?
- Log in to myGov and link the ATO if needed.
- Go to Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) online.
- Confirm you have left Australia and your temporary visa has expired or been cancelled.
- Enter your Super fund details and member number.
- Provide your bank details and submit the claim.
Which documents do I usually need?
You’ll typically need your passport details, evidence of visa expiry or cancellation, Super fund name and member number, and bank details for payment. A Tax File Number helps but is not always essential. Some funds may ask for certified identification or an immigration status certificate if records do not match.
What happens after I submit the form?
The ATO checks eligibility and forwards the approved claim to your fund. The fund withholds DASP tax, deducts any fees, and pays the net amount to your nominated account. You will receive status updates and a DASP payment summary after payment.
Should I be paid to an Australian or an overseas account?
Either can work. An Australian account can avoid FX and overseas bank fees. If you choose an overseas account, expect an exchange rate spread and possible inbound charges.
I’m a US citizen, how is DASP taxed in the US?
Australia withholds DASP tax first, and the US can still tax the same payout, so you usually report the gross amount on your US return and then claim a foreign tax credit for the Australian tax withheld.
Do I have to report the DASP on my US return?
Yes. Report the gross DASP in US dollars. Most people enter it as foreign pension income or other income, depending on how they have treated Super in prior years. Keep the DASP payment summary and use the exchange rate on the payment date.
Can I claim a credit for Australian DASP tax?
Usually, yes. Form 1116 lets you claim a foreign tax credit for the Australian withholding, limited to the US tax on that same income. If the Australian tax is higher, the excess may carry forward. If you do not claim the credit, you may be able to deduct the tax, but the credit is usually better.
Which foreign tax credit basket applies?
Many filers use the general category basket for Super distributions. If you have been using a specific basket for Super-related income in prior years, stay consistent unless your facts changed.
Are Super earnings or payouts taxed by the US even if Australia already taxed them?
Often, yes. The US taxes citizens on worldwide income. How much is taxable now can depend on how you have treated the Super over time. If you have tracked basis and reported annual earnings, a portion of the DASP may be a return of basis. If you have not, more of the payout may be taxable in the US. This is where a cross-border adviser is helpful.
FAQs
How long does it take to get my Super back after I apply for DASP?
Most claims are paid in a few weeks once your visa status and ID check out, but mismatched details or ATO-held balances can slow things down.
Do I need to lodge an Australian tax return just for the DASP?
My Super was transferred to the ATO, can I still get it back?
I don’t have a TFN or myGov access, can I still claim DASP?
Do I still need FBAR or Form 8938 in the year I cash out my Super?
