Tax implications of receiving money from overseas to Australia 2024
If you’re receiving money from overseas, to a bank account in Australia, you’ll need to check if there are any tax implications. Depending on the reason for the payment you may be obliged to report it to the ATO, or pay Australian tax on the money you receive. However, not all payments received internationally are taxed – so doing your research is crucial to make sure you understand your obligations and don’t fall foul of the law. This guide is here to help.
Tax matters can be complex. This guide is for information only and does not constitute advice. Get professional support if you’re unsure about your tax obligations in Australia – or call the ATO on 13 28 65, with your Tax File Number (TFN).
Do I need to pay tax on money transferred from overseas?
Whether or not you need to pay tax in Australia on money transferred from overseas will primarily depend on the reason for the payment. Other factors can also make a difference, such as where you live, your tax residence status and the value of the transfer.
This means that tax on income from employment, investments or similar sources might be different to tax on a gift someone sends you from abroad. The situation is likely to be different again if you’re moving to Australia and transfer money from an account you hold overseas to a new Australian bank account.
It’s important to get tax right – and so taking professional guidance is always a smart plan. We’ll walk through some pointers to consider here, but talking to the ATO (Australian Taxation Office) is the best way to get a definitive answer if you’re unsure.
Transferring money from one personal bank account to another
You might need to move money from an account held in your name abroad, to another account you hold here in Australia. This might be the case if you’ve been working overseas and are now repatriating – or if you’re a new arrival moving to Australia to live, work or study.
If you’re moving money from an account in your name, to another account in your name, the chances are that you won’t need to pay tax on the transfer. However, bear in mind that once your money arrives in your Australian bank you could be liable for tax if it earns interest.
Best methods to receive money in Australia?
The tax man might not take money from you when you receive money from overseas, but there could still be fees to pay. How this works will depend on how you decide to get the money from overseas to Australia in the first place. Let’s look at a few common options:
Wise multi currency account – one easy way to move money from abroad to Australia is to open a Wise multi-currency account. Your account comes with local and SWIFT details to receive money in a broad selection of currencies. This is handy if you have money overseas in a foreign currency like USD, EUR or GBP. You’ll be able to receive the payment in the foreign currency and hold it without converting to AUD. Then, when you see a good exchange rate, or when you want your money for spending locally in Australia, you can use Wise to manage the exchange with the mid-market rate and low fees from 0.33%.
Bank to bank transfers – assuming you have a bank account in Australia already you could set up a payment from your overseas bank to your AUD account here. In this case, a fee is likely to apply which is set by the overseas bank. Depending on where you’re sending from, transfer fees can be pretty steep. However, if you’re sending a high value payment, you may find that the biggest cost to you is actually in the exchange rate used to convert your foreign currency to AUD. Banks set their own exchange rates, which include a percentage markup. This can often be around 3% – which isn’t huge, but which quickly mounts up for higher value transfers.
Cash – finally, if you’re physically relocating to Australia you may be considering just carrying cash. You can bring amounts of up to 10,000 AUD into the country without declaring the funds to AUSTRAC. However, for higher value payment you’ll need to report the money. There’s no fee for carrying cash into Australia, but AUSTRAC records cash incoming to detect, deter and prevent fraud or illegal activities. It’s also important to note that carrying large amounts of cash in your suitcase isn’t the most secure option and can make you a target for thieves.
Transferring money into Australia
As we’ve noted, there’s not usually any tax to pay if you’re transferring money from an overseas account in your name, to an Australian account in your name. Once the money is in Australia it becomes subject to ATO rules, so tax may be payable on interest or dividends if you save or invest it.
If you’re being paid by someone else, the situation might be different, depending on the reason for the payment.
If the money is income, there may be tax to pay on it either in Australia or in the source country. This will depend on your tax residency status, and other factors like whether there are tax treaties in place between Australia and the source country.
If you’re receiving a gift, there’s a good chance that there’s no tax to pay on it as long as it fulfils ATO rules and is a one time payment.
Because individual circumstances can be unique, you may benefit from ATO advice, or the help of a professional tax advisor if you’re unsure about what to do with a payment being sent to you from abroad.
What are the limits for receiving money to Australia from abroad
There are no legal limits or restrictions on the amount of money that can be transferred into Australia. However, limits may apply on the amount that can be sent from the source country – you’ll need to check this before you initiate the payment.
The ATO may not be interested so much in how much you’re receiving from abroad – but the payment may become taxable depending on how you use it. Tax might apply on income earned from the funds for example.
It’s also worth remembering that AUSTRAC needs to know about payments coming in which are over 10,000 AUD in value. If you’re carrying cash or similar over the border, the onus is on you to report the payment. If you’re receiving a bank transfer, the bank will make the report to AUSTRAC. In all cases, this is part of the legal process to prevent fraud, money laundering and other illegal activities.
Receiving large amounts of money from overseas
If you’re going to be receiving large sums of money from abroad, you’ll need to consider a few things including legal and tax obligations. If you’re getting a payment as a gift or as an inheritance you may not need to declare it or pay any tax. However, it’s extremely important to make sure that you retain any documentation relating to the payment in case ATO or another organisation needs to ask you any questions about it in future.
To comply with the law in Australia and in most other countries, there’s also a good chance that the person sending the money, and you as the receiver, may be asked to prove its source.
So, for example, if you’re getting a payment from an inheritance, the person sending you money and/or you as the receiver may prove this with documents like these:
- a signed copy of the will
- a grant of probate or court document
- a letter from a solicitor
- bank statements showing you received the money
Banks and specialist non-bank providers like Wise can help anyone sending high value payments with understanding the documents needed.
If you use a digital service like Wise, the sender can be guided through the process with a live in-app chat, and will then just need to photograph and upload images of the documents they’re asked for. Banks might require you to visit the branch in person when sending a high value payment – and could also charge more than a non-bank provider like Wise.
Moving to Australia: Do I have to pay tax?
The tax implications when moving to Australia depend a lot on factors like your residency status and intentions. The ATO has lots of handy advice online for people moving for the long term, and others who may be in different situations, like students coming into the country who may work out of term time, or people on a working holiday here.
Generally, you’ll need to report and pay tax on any income you earn. However, in principle you shouldn’t usually need to pay tax twice on the same income. This is particularly important when moving countries, as both the country you’re moving from, and the one you’re moving to, may have a claim on income earned during the tax year.
It can be helpful to check if the country you’re moving from has a double taxation treaty with Australia. Australia has double taxation treaties with 40+ countries, which prevent anyone paying tax twice on earned income.
Tax while moving countries – or if you’re a digital nomad or other long term traveller – can be very complicated. Take professional advice or talk to the authorities in both Australia and the country you’re moving from, to make sure you understand what you need to report, and pay, where.
Non resident tax Australia
If you’re not an Australian resident for tax purposes, but earn an income in Australia, you may need to declare it or pay tax on Australian income to the ATO. In some cases, your employer might manage this process for you – but ultimately, you’re responsible for making sure your tax affairs are straight.
Australian tax calculator
If you’re an Australian tax resident receiving an income from overseas, the ATO foreign income conversion calculator could help you work out what you may need to pay in tax. This will convert your foreign income to AUD to help you work through the tax payments required. This calculator doesn’t apply to all tax payers, and doesn’t take into account any deductions you might be entitled to, but it’s a good start when trying to figure out your ATO liabilities.
Conclusion
It’s important to get your tax right to avoid penalties or legal problems down the line. Tax when moving money across countries – or when you’re relocating or working abroad – can be especially complicated. In Australia, usually you won’t need to pay tax on money you’re moving from overseas yourself, or one time gifts and inheritances. However, if you’re earning an income abroad, the situation is likely to be different.
To make sure you’re complying with your tax obligations, consult a tax professional or speak to the ATO, to get personal help and advice.
FAQ – tax on inheritance
Do I have to pay tax on inheritance money transferred from overseas to Australia?
You do not usually need to report or pay tax on an inheritance you’re receiving from abroad. The rules are slightly different if you inherit property. Keep thorough records showing the payment, in case you need to discuss the transfer with the ATO or other authorities later – and get personal advice if you’re not sure on the rules in your particular situation.
How much money can you receive as a gift tax free in Australia from overseas?
Generally the ATO will not require you to report or pay tax on a one time gift from abroad. Incoming payments of over 10,000 AUD will be reported to AUSTRAC. If you’re receiving extremely high value payments, or regular payments, talk to ATO to make sure you’re complying with the law here.
How much money can I transfer from overseas in Australia?
There’s no theoretical limit to the amount you can transfer from abroad to an account in Australia. However, your bank might have its own limits – and it’s also important to note that payments of over 10,000 AUD will be reported to AUSTRAC to help prevent fraud and illegal activities like money laundering.
