How do I pay the ATO from overseas?

Your options from overseas

• International bank transfer (SWIFT). The ATO's account is held at the Reserve Bank of Australia; the SWIFT code, BSB and account details are on the ATO's payment pages. The payment must be sent in Australian dollars, and your PRN goes in the payment reference field on its own, with nothing else in that field.
• International money remitter. The ATO lists OFX and Xe. You pay in your local currency, the remitter converts to Australian dollars and validates your PRN, and the ATO receives the full Australian dollar amount without cross-border bank fees being taken out.
• Card. Visa, Mastercard and American Express through ATO online services or Government EasyPay. International cards carry a 2.03% fee; paying by credit card has the full fee table.
• Australian bank account. If you still hold one, BPAY (biller code 75556) or direct debit from that account works exactly as it does onshore.

The fee and timing traps

With a SWIFT transfer, the ATO warns that bank handling and exchange fees are generally deducted at both your overseas bank and its partner bank in Australia before the money is forwarded. The ATO credits what arrives, not what you sent. A shortfall of $30 leaves a $30 debt that keeps attracting the 11.43% general interest charge and can surprise you months later.

Timing matters too. Domestic transfers can take up to 4 business days to reach the ATO; international transfers can take longer, and interest runs from the due date. If a deadline is close, a card payment or a remitter with a known delivery time is safer than a SWIFT transfer sent on the due date. Always check your ATO account through online services a week later to confirm the payment landed against the right account.

If you cannot pay it all from overseas

Being overseas does not change your options with the ATO. You can set up an ATO payment plan online through myGov from anywhere, or by phone, and the ATO does not need an Australian bank account for you to pay instalments by card. What being overseas does change is the consequences of ignoring it: the debt keeps growing, refunds are offset, and a large debt can lead to a departure prohibition order that stops you leaving Australia on your next visit. Can the ATO chase me overseas covers what it can and cannot do.

What to do next

1. Log in to ATO online services and note the payment reference number for the account you are paying.
2. Choose a remitter that guarantees the full Australian dollar amount, or add a margin to a SWIFT transfer to cover bank fees.
3. Check your ATO account a week later to confirm the payment has been credited in full.

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