Can I still claim a DASP if I left Australia years ago?

Yes. Once your super is held by the ATO there is no deadline to claim it. The process can be slower than claiming from your fund, so sooner is better.

Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP): Claim Your SuperAfter You Leave

Worked in Australia on a temporary visa? Your super didn't leave with you. We help you claim it,from anywhere in the world.

Home » Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) Claims

If you worked in Australia on a temporary visa, your employer almost certainly paid super into a fund for you. That money does not follow you home.

Once you have left and your visa has ended, you can claim it as a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP).

AMA Accountants is an ATO-registered tax agent and CPA/IPA firm based in Adelaide, with 25 years of experience.

We find your super funds, lodge your claim correctly and check the
tax taken out before you accept the payment.

Fill The form to Claim Your DASP?

DASP at a Glance

You can only claim after you have left Australia, your temporary visa has ended, and you hold no other Australian visa.
Australian citizens, permanent residents and New Zealand citizens cannot claim.
Tax is withheld before you are paid: 35% of the taxed element for most visa holders,65% for working holiday makers.
The tax is final. A DASP does not go in your Australian tax return.
If you do not claim within six months of leaving, your fund can pass the money to the ATO. You can still claim it from there.

Question	Answer
Who can claim?	Former temporary visa holders (excluding subclasses 405 and 410) who have left Australia and hold no active Australian visa.
How do I apply?	Apply through the ATO online system or use paper form NAT 7204 (fund-held super) or NAT 74880 (ATO-held super).
How long does it take?	Generally, within 28 days of receiving a complete application.
Payment summary	A payment summary is generally issued within 14 days of payment.

What Is a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment?

Super is Australia’s compulsory retirement savings system. Employers pay a percentage of your earnings into a fund, and for most people it stays locked away until retirement age.

Temporary residents do not retire here, so the law makes an exception. When you leave permanently and your visa ends, you can ask for your super as a lump sum, less a final tax.

Your balance can include:

Super Guarantee contributions your employer paid
Voluntary or salary-sacrificed contributions you made
Investment earnings, positive or negative, up to the payment date

With the Super Guarantee rate at 12%, even a year or two of work can build a balance worth claiming.

Ready to Claim Your DASP?

If you have left Australia, or you are about to, it is worth checking what super is waiting for you. A small balance can still be worth hundreds or thousands of dollars, and the right tax rate matters.

Contact AMA Accountants today and we will manage your DASP claim from start to finish.

Who Can Claim a DASP?

Eligibility is all or nothing. According to the ATO, you generally need to meet every one of these:

You earned super in Australia on an eligible temporary visa (not subclass 405 or 410).
That visa has expired or been cancelled.
You have left Australia.
You hold no other active Australian visa.
You are not an Australian citizen, New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.

This covers working holiday (417 and 462), student, temporary skilled and other eligible temporary visa holders.

New Zealand citizens cannot claim a DASP. Many can transfer their super to a KiwiSaver scheme instead, which is a separate process.

Leaving is not enough. This is the mistake we see most. If your visa is still active, or a replacement visa application is pending, the ATO system will reject your claim. Wait until no Australian visa is active.

How Much Tax Is Taken Out of a DASP?

You do not choose the rate. Your fund (or the ATO) applies it based on the portion of your balance that is paid and whether you have ever held a working holiday visa.

Component	Most temporary visas	Working holiday makers (417 or 462)
Tax-free component	0%	0%
Taxable component, taxed element	35%	65%
Taxable component, untaxed element	45%	65%

Two points catch people out.

A new visa does not reset the rate. If you held a working holiday visa and later moved to another visa, the 65% rate still applies to super linked to that working holiday period.

The tax is final. It is taken at payment, and there is generally no way to claim it back later. The calculation needs to be right the first time.

Worked Example

Two people leave Australia with $6,500 in super. In both cases, $500 is tax-free, and $6,000 is a taxed element.

Payment details	Standard temporary visa	Working holiday visa
Tax on $6,000 taxed element	$2,100 (35%)	$3,900 (65%)
Paid to you	$4,400	$2,600

That is an $1,800 gap on an identical balance, purely because of visa history. Fund fees may reduce both amounts slightly. This is an illustration only. Your result depends on how your fund splits your balance.

Ready to Claim Your DASP?

How to Apply for Your DASP?

Confirm eligibility

We check that your visa has ended and no other visa is active. This one step prevents most rejected claims.

Find every super fund

Short casual jobs are the biggest source of forgotten super. Two or three funds is common, and some balances may already sit with the ATO. We search for all funds linked to your Tax File Number (TFN).

Gather your documents

You will usually need your passport and visa details, your TFN (optional, but it helps find lost super), each fund’s member number and your bank details. Some funds ask for certified ID copies, which is easier to arrange before you leave.

Choose the right pathway

The ATO online DASP system is free and checks your immigration status for you. You can start it before you leave. Paper forms are NAT 7204 (to a fund) and NAT 74880 (to the ATO for unclaimed super).

Lodge after you have left

A DASP cannot be paid while you are still in Australia.

Check your payment summary

Your fund or the ATO must issue one within 14 days of payment, showing the gross amount, tax withheld and net payment.

Review the tax withheld

We compare it against your visa history and balance. This is where errors most often go unnoticed.

AMA Accountants

Company Statistics

20,000 +

Returns Annually

20 +

Tax Consultants

20 M

In Claimed Deductions

25 +

Years Experience

Ready to Claim Your DASP?

How Long Does a DASP Take?

Once a complete application is received, payment is generally made within 28 days. Delays usually come from missing documents, name or date of birth mismatches, a closed bank account or a claim lodged before your visa status changed.

Many funds can pay to an overseas account, but not every fund offers every option. Keeping an Australian bank account open can sometimes speed things up.

What If You Do Not Claim Within Six Months?

If you have been gone six months or more and your visa has ended, your fund is generally required to transfer your balance to the ATO as unclaimed super. Your money is not lost.

You can still claim it at any time with no deadline, and the same tax rates apply. The catch is that dealing with the ATO instead of your fund can mean more paperwork and a slower turnaround.

Does a DASP Go in My Tax Return?

No. A DASP is taxed at source, so neither the payment nor the tax withheld goes in your Australian return.

Your final tax return is a separate matter. If you earned wages in the year you left, you may need to lodge one, and a refund may be owed. We can handle your DASP and final return together.

Also check the rules in your new country. It may tax the payment differently or expect you to declare it.

Planning to Return to Australia?

Claiming a DASP does not, by itself, affect a future visa application. But once super is paid out, it cannot be put back. Any new work starts a fresh balance.

Thinking about permanent residency? Speak to a registered migration agent first. Becoming a permanent resident would rule out a DASP.

Five DASP Mistakes That Cost Time and Money

Applying too early, before your visa has ended.
Missing a fund. Each employer may have used a different one, and each needs its own claim.
Using the wrong form.NAT 7204 is for fund-held super. NAT 74880 is for ATO-held super.
Assuming a new visa removes the 65% rate. For working holiday super, it generally does not.
Skipping the payment summary check, so wrong withholding goes unnoticed.

Ready to Claim Your DASP?

How AMA Accountants Helps

Eligibility check before we lodge, so your claim is not rejected and restarted from overseas
Super fund search across every fund linked to your TFN, including ATO-held balances
Correct lodgement through the right pathway for your situation
Tax review of your payment summary against your visa and contribution history
The easy-to-understand explanation of what you will receive, and why, before payment is finalised
Final tax return if you are owed a refund for the year you left

Why Choose AMA Accountants?

You are handing over your TFN and passport details, so you should know who you are dealing with.

Registered with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB registration number 25993228)
CPA and IPA members, meeting professional standards and ongoing training
25 years in business, an established Adelaide firm
20,000+ tax returns a year, so we deal with the ATO daily
20+ tax consultants, so your claim never waits on one person
5.0-star Google rating from hundreds of client reviews
Local office, global reach. Visit us at 477 Torrens Road, Woodville SA, or work with us fully online from any country

Frequently Asked Questions About DASP

Can I apply before I leave Australia?

You can usually start and save the ATO online application before you leave. You can only submit it after you have left and your visa has ended.

Do I need a Tax File Number?

It is optional, but we recommend it. A TFN helps the ATO find all super accounts linked to you, including lost or unclaimed super.

Can I get the DASP tax back in a tax return?

No. It is a final withholding tax and generally cannot be reduced or refunded later.

What if I had several super funds?

Each fund needs its own claim. We search for all funds linked to your TFN, including money already held by the ATO.

Does the 65% working holiday rate last forever?

If you ever held a 417 or 462 visa, 65% applies to super linked to that period, even if you later moved to another visa.

Can I still claim if I left years ago?

Yes. Once your super is with the ATO there is no deadline. The process can be slower, so sooner is better.

Is a DASP the same as early release of super?

No. A DASP is only for former temporary residents who have left Australia. Australian residents need a separate condition of release, such as severe financial hardship.

Ready to Claim Your DASP?

Contact AMA Accountants today and we will manage your DASP claim from start to finish.

Phone:08 7111 0100
Mobile / WhatsApp: +61 420 529 890
Email: finance@amaaccountant.com.au
Office:477 Torrens Road, Woodville SA 5011
Online: available to clients across Australia and overseas

AMA Accountants is a registered tax agent (TPB registration number 25993228). This page is general information only and is not personal advice. DASP eligibility and tax depend on your visa history and fund details.