New Job Checklist for Australians

Without a TFN, your employer is legally required to withhold tax from your pay at the top marginal rate, which is 47 cents in the dollar including the Medicare levy. You can apply through myGov if you do not already have one. If you have one but cannot find it, check your previous tax returns or myGov inbox.

Claim the tax-free threshold at your main job only. If you claim it at two jobs simultaneously, neither employer withholds enough tax and you will owe the shortfall at tax time. If this is a second or casual job running alongside another, do not tick that box.

Your employer withholds extra tax once your income crosses the compulsory repayment threshold, which the ATO adjusts each year. If you do not declare your debt on the TFN declaration, your employer will not withhold enough and you will face a repayment bill after you lodge your return. Check your current balance and threshold at the ATO.

If you do not nominate a fund, your employer must request your stapled fund from the ATO. If you have a stapled fund, contributions go there. Only if the ATO confirms there is no stapled fund will your employer use its default. The practical point: if you already have a fund you like, nominate it actively so there is no ambiguity.

Fees and investment options vary significantly between funds. A difference of 0.5 percentage points in annual fees compounds to a meaningful sum over a 30-year career. Check the APRA MySuper product heatmap and your fund's product disclosure statement before you sign anything.

Most funds default new members into a balanced or lifecycle option. That may or may not suit your situation. If you are decades from retirement and comfortable with market volatility, a growth or index option often has lower fees and higher long-run expected returns. You can usually change this online after joining.

From 1 July 2026, payday super requires most employers to pay super contributions on or before each payday rather than quarterly. Confirm your employer's payroll cycle so you know when to expect contributions to appear in your fund, and flag it early if they do not show up.

The super guarantee rate is set by legislation and increases over time. Check the current rate at the ATO or on the ATO's super guarantee page before you assume a figure, because the rate that applied in 2024-25 may not be the rate in 2026-27. Your employer must apply the correct rate to your ordinary time earnings.

Some employers, particularly in health, charity, and education, allow you to pay for certain expenses from pre-tax salary, which reduces your taxable income. The benefit depends on your marginal tax rate and what is on offer. It is worth asking in week one because some arrangements must be set up before your first pay run.

Contributions made via salary sacrifice are taxed at 15 percent inside super rather than at your marginal income tax rate, which for most full-time workers is higher. The concessional contributions cap applies, so check your total before adding employer contributions. Even a small regular amount compounds significantly over time.

A novated lease lets you pay for a car and its running costs from pre-tax salary through your employer. The tax saving depends on your income and the vehicle, and it only makes sense if you will stay with the employer long enough to justify the arrangement. Worth understanding before you commit to a car loan.

Most super funds automatically provide some level of life, total and permanent disability, and income protection insurance. The default cover is often modest and may not match your actual needs. Check your fund's insurance summary and consider whether standalone cover is worth comparing, particularly if you have dependants.

Payroll errors are more common in a new starter's first pay run than at any other time. Confirm the hours or days paid, the rate applied, and whether any allowances or loadings you are entitled to under your award or contract have been included. A discrepancy is easiest to fix before it becomes a pattern.

Run your annualised gross pay through a tax calculator and compare the expected weekly or fortnightly withholding to what appears on your payslip. If the tax withheld is much lower than expected, your threshold claim may have been entered incorrectly. If it is much higher, check whether your HECS declaration was processed.

Under payday super, contributions should appear in your fund on or around each payday. Log into your super fund's member portal after your first pay run and check whether a contribution has been received or is pending. If nothing appears within a few business days, raise it with payroll before the next cycle.

Your take-home pay after tax, super, and any salary sacrifice is the only number that matters for your day-to-day finances. Do not budget off your gross salary. Once you have one real payslip, you have the actual figure to work with.