Tax forms for a part-time high school job?

What are all the steps in getting a tax file number and then getting a youth allowance?

• I got a bank savings account a few days ago. But what is every single step in getting a tax file number? Can you get the form from Centrelink? Could you explain in detail what a tax file number is? I am 14 years old at the moment and I will turn 15 in 3 months. After I have a bank savings account and a tax file number, can I fill any forms that are needed to get a youth allowance when I am 16 years old? Can I fill out the forms while I am 14 or 15 years old? If not, when should I start going to Centrelink to get all the necessary forms to get a youth allowance? What exactly is a youth allowance and what is every single step in getting a youth allowance? Do I need to have a job to get a youth allowance or can I just be a student who is in high school studying? Details would be great.

• Answer:

  A Tax File Number (TFN) is a unique number that identifies you to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) in any dealings with them (paying tax, getting refunds) and for anything that they're involved with in any way such as superannuation (administered by the ATO), bank accounts (so they know what interest you've earned), employment, Centrelink etc. You only ever get one TFN in a lifetime. You get it as described in the following link - it will take around 28 days and will be sent to your postal address: http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/content.asp?doc=/content/41612.htm Youth Allowance is a payment made via Centrelink to assist eligible young people with their living expenses while they are studying, undertaking an Australian Apprenticeship or looking for full time work. If you do not have a Year 12 certificate, you will generally be required to be studying or training. It is very difficult to meet the complex eligibility requirements which are described on the Centrelink site much better than I could do. You cannot apply before you are old enough to be eligible and while some 15 year olds are eligible in some specific circumstances, most people have to be at least 16. http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/payments/youth_allow.htm