A surprise to some, and lifeline to others, a nice end to any working-holiday year or two spent in Australia is receiving tax back and superannuation.

In a country where wages are high, these two things can accumulate to a large chunk of change. But in a country where living expenses are also extremely high, that large chunk of change may be needed just to book a flight home.

Depending on how much you spent on your working holiday abroad and how desperately you need money, there are three options to getting your tax back. However, your superannuation may be a bit more complex.

I have spare money so I’ll do my tax back whenever.

A year in one of the wildest countries in the world, in nature and party, and you’ve still managed to be thoughtful with the money you’ve earned. Good on ya!

If there’s no need to receive your Tax Back now, then do it on your own through the Australian Tax Office (ATO). This process probably takes the longest to complete depending on your knowledge of tax forms etc.

Don’t be too daunted by the process. It’s actually quite simple and the ATO website goes through the process with you.

When can I file my tax return?

The fiscal year starts on July 1 and ends on June 30, if you want to file for a tax return this way, you should wait until the June 30 following your year of work. This may mean filing twice for your tax return depending on when you worked in Australia.

What do I need?

Be prepared with personal information including your Tax File Number (TFN) as well as payment summaries from all employers in Australia. These are available at the end of each fiscal year.

How can I lodge my Tax Return this way?

The ATO website gives directions for lodging tax returns online or by mail. Go through their e-tax demonstration to learn about the process online. You may find most of the information needed to lodge your return is already available on their website. For people still in Australia at the end of the fiscal year, most news agents offer paper tax back guides and forms for free.

When do I receive my tax back?

For the basic working holiday maker, the process usually isn’t too complex. Though any tax office works at its own pace. Most people can expect Tax back anywhere from two weeks on. I received my tax back about a month after it was lodged. After six weeks, I would recommend a call or email asking for an update.

I’m traveling, so I would like the money soon, but don’t have time for paperwork.

If your adventure in Australia ends with the beginning of another adventure in some place new (tax back goes far in southeast Asia), then you most likely will have some money to spare, but won’t have the time or resources to lodge a tax return yourself. The best option is to see a tax agent.

When can I file my return with an agent?

Whenever you want. Even if your tax back with an agent includes work after July 1, but it is not yet June 30 of that same year, they can get your full return with an early tax assessment. Foreign residents applying individually can do this as well, but it gets a bit more complicated, so it’s better to leave it to the experts.

Try to meet with a tax agent while in Australia. They’ll talk you through the process, give you some paper work and let you know about any loose ends that need to be tied up before leaving the country. After leaving, just follow whatever they tell you to do post-departure.

What do I need?

Information needed on the application from a tax agent includes personal details such as your TFN, employment details (it can be as simple as the name of places you worked, they’ll research the rest, but the more information given, the quicker the process and sometimes the cheaper) and bank account information.

If you can keep the Australian bank account you were paid into open, then do. It makes the process easier for payment of funds and tracking how much you’ve earned.

You must also sign a power of attorney allowing the tax agency to complete this work.

Once all this information is returned to a tax agent, your work is done.

How much does it costs?

Some agents charge a percentage of your tax return, others charge a flat fee. Look into how much you’ve earned to pick which option is best for you, but usually it’s easier just to go for a flat fee. Make sure to go through an agency with a policy of only charging after your refund is complete.

When do I receive my refund?

It depends on how long it takes the agency to lodge your tax return as well as the tax return process by ATO. Good tax agents are very educated in tax law and usually sort out information and file it pretty quickly. I used this option and received my tax refund about two months after mailing in my application with no payment summaries.

How do I find a reliable tax agent?

A lot of travel agencies in Australia also offer tax back. If not they can recommend places to you. You can also find registered tax agents on the government website.

I don’t even have the money for a flight out of Oz. I need cash now!

Yes it’s possible to get your tax refund within a week or less, but it’ll cost you.

I’ve heard twice of people receiving up-front tax back payments. This means an agency does the usual estimate on the amount of tax back you will receive, pays that amount to you out of their own pocket and actually collects the tax back for themselves later.

You’ll go through the same application process as with a tax agent. Only difference is they must complete an identity check first to give the money up front.

Expect to pay at least 9% of your tax back. Backpacker Buddy offers what they call a 12-hour refund. They charge 19.8% of your tax back with a minimum fee of $250. This means no matter what your tax back estimate is, you’ll pay at least $250, but possibly more.

(Note: This is NOT and endorsement for Backpacker Buddy. I’ve never used them personally. I only mention their name, because they are one of the few agencies I’ve heard of that refund this way.)

Yipee, you’ve gotten some money back from your time in Australia. Now it’s time to get more. While superannuation refunds can be slightly more confusing, money is money, and all temporary workers who have left Australia for good are entitled to these funds. Click here to find out how.

Superannuation is a retirement fund set up in Australia for people who earn more than $450 per month. Your employer is obligated to put 9% of your earnings into a super fund once you reach this threshold.

You can create your own super fund, but most just have one set up with the company they are working with. This means it is possible to have more than one super fund account.

The money is entered into the share market, so how much you receive back depends on the market at the time.

Tax agents can also lodge your super refund, but in more cases than with tax refunds it’s not worth it to go through an agent as their fees, plus an automatic 35% tax by the government on any super at withdrawal, will leave you without much.

Luckily, the process of actually applying to receive your superannuation on your own is not as detailed as the tax refund process. You can withdraw your superannuation either through the company it’s invested with or through the government ATO website.

Either way, you must fill out a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) form. You will have to fill out more than one of these forms if you have a superfund set up with more than one company.

At the start of your work with a company, they should give you forms regarding your superannuation that include all its details. If you no longer have these forms, contact previous employers to find out who the fund is with, then contact those companies to find out details such as your account number with that superannuation fund.

Now comes the most difficult part, whether you apply for your super refund with an agent or on your own, proving your identity and that your work visa has expired.

Since superannuation is set up as a retirement fund, in most cases only temporary workers can withdraw from it before retiring. Your temporary work visa must be expired to apply to receive your superfund.

If your visa has not expired but you want to claim your super, you must cancel your visa, which can be done by contacting immigration with your full name and date of birth, the passport number you had when you visited Australia, subclass of the visa you wish to have canceled (usually either 462 or 417 work holiday visas), current residential address and the date you departed Australia. Note, make sure you leave Australia or get a new visa before canceling your work visa.

Now back to receiving your super refund. To prove your identity, visa and its expiration and that you have departed the country you must make photocopies of the following:

• your passport photo page
• your arrival and departure stamps from Australia
•  your visa (stamp or email)
•  a second form of ID, such as a drivers license or two debit/credit cards from different banks

All these photo copies must be certified by someone qualified to do so such as a police officer, doctor, judge, etc. Whomever is certifying the document must write out, “I certify this to be a true and correct copy of the original document,” as well as sign and print their name, write their qualifications, their address, business hours, telephone number, registration number, date the document and stamp with an official stamp.

This all must be written or translated in English, making an already complicated task close to impossible when doing so in places like Hong Kong or the Philippines.

Once all this is complete, send all these forms and your application either to the government or individual super fund companies. Expect to wait at least 28 days to receive the payment.

Was this article helpful to the process of getting your superannuation back? Visit tomorrow to learn how to get your tax back from Australia.

Pin a fascinator to your hair, pop open a bottle of champagne and get your cash out ladies, because it’s Melbourne Cup time down under.

This four-day Aussie carnival attracts visitors from all over the world. But you don’t have to be a heavy gambler or horse expert to take part in the event. In fact, the fashion aspect of the Melbourne Cup seems to be equally as important.

So whether you’re going to gamble, going to show off or going to get pissed, here are some tips to making the most out of the races.

When to go

AAMI Victoria Derby Day is opening day featuring some great races to kick off the Cup. Emirates Melbourne Cup Day is the day to see the best races and make the most (or loose the most) money. Emirates Stakes Day closes the carnival with races and live performances.

But Crown Oaks Day…

Now that’s ‘Ladies Day’. 

Me to the left with some friends in reserved seating at the Crown Oaks Day in 2010.

The third day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, people don’t pay as much attention to the races this day as they do to style. 

This is your day to dress your best, but expect competition. Some women invest a lot of money and time in their ensembles. People all over Australia even go into competition with their looks at Myers Fashions on the Field, which the winner of is announced on Crown Oaks Day.

But it’s all in good fun so just focus on feeling pretty and remember to wear a pink rose, the official flower of Crown Oaks Day.

What to wear

It adds up. Between a stunning dress, great shoes and a mind-blowing fascinator, dressing up for the races can cost quite a bit.

But it doesn’t have to.

My friend Dorcey, to the left, went for a 'Pretty Woman' race look. I, to the right, went for a simple black dress from Anthropologie, a vintage-inspired fascinator I found in Brisbane and cowboy boots, which I wear everywhere.

Focus on the fascinator. Race day may be the only day you ever wear one of these things, so make the most of it. The headpieces are made to stand out and they’re the most important part of any girl’s ensemble come race day. So spend the most time, money and effort on this accessory. Nothing is too extreme and the most unusual piece, usually gets the most compliments.

Dress simply. Fascinators are not cheap items. So wearing one may come at the cost of another item. Since these headpieces can be quite detailed, it may be a good idea to dress simple even if cost isn’t a question. You want to stand out, but not have too much going on.

My suggestion-go for a one color cotton dress. I don’t want to say black, because it’s a spring event, full of color. But a simple blue or pink cotton dress from Target won’t break the bank or clash with your headwear. Plus, it will keep you comfortable on what can be a long day.

Ditch the stilettos. These skinny-heeled shoes are always a hassle at the races. Take a shoe that’s already hard to walk in, add a few drinks and force a gal to walk in the grass all day, it won’t end pretty.

You could wear a fantastic pair of sandals, but please backpackers, leave the Havaianas at home. Or you could really make an Aussie statement and wear a pair of Tony Bianco wedges. This popular Australian brand will definitely win you some points with the locals. Plus their wedges are AMAZING this season.

One last tip-bring a shaw or cardigan. It can be a bit chilly in the shade.

Where to sit

Two choices: general admission or reserved seating. But before you pick your ticket based on price, read this.

Where you sit at on Crown Oaks Day will determine what kind of day you have. Either choice presents a new and interesting experience, but be prepared for just how interesting that experience may get.

General admission means lawn seats, which start off quite fun and ideal, ladies looking lovely lounging out on picnic blankets with champagne, but gets messy. It’s kind of a running Aussie joke how ridiculous people get on the lawn come ladies day. Despite the classy get-ups, girls and guys alike seem to be at their trashiest down here. It’s a great time, but be prepared for it. Adult general admission costs $61 on Crown Oaks Day.

The scene at the the lawn after the races had finished at Crown Oaks Day in 2010.

With reserved seating you’re looking to pay at least $30 more. But with that $30 comes shelter from the rain or extremely strong Melbourne sun, you’re guaranteed at least one of them. It means seats, clean toilets and the ability to access food and event zones not included in general admission.

Who to bet on

If you don’t know who to pick or have never even watched a horse race in your life, don’t worry. There are still ways you can bet and maybe even win.

You can go for what most clueless people do and pick out the horse with the cutest or most interesting name or you can get strategic.

After losing a few times I used a trick from one of my old journalism professors and headed to the smokers section. You don’t have to smoke, just carry a lighter. You’d be surprised at the things you can learn when you offer someone a light.

I ended up talking to a group of older men about the races. I told them I’d been losing and they gave me their expert opinions on who to bet on in the next race. I decided to go with it and guess what, they were right. I actually won quite a bit of money thanks to those guys.

I surprisingly won a lot of money at Crown Oaks Day in 2010.

How to get there

All race days throughout the Melbourne Cup are located at Flemington Racecourse. According to the Melbourne Cup website, “Special race trains will depart Flinders Street (Platforms 8 & 9), stopping at Southern Cross station (Platform 14) and North Melbourne (Platform 6), then express to Flemington.”

This is your best bet for getting to and from the racecourse from the city center. The trains are quite full to and from the stadium, but Metlink runs more than usual on race days, so you will get there and back. I suggest buying day passes the day before.

The train ride back to Flinders Street Station at the end of Crown Oaks Day 2010 was packed.

I remember it like it was yesterday.

The day I learned that I knew nothing about coffee.

Fresh off a great two month journey up Australia’s East coast, I arrived in Port Douglas, ready to work. I walked into a busy cafe called Rehab, now closed, with the local paper’s classified section in hand.

Falling in love with the cafe instantly, I thought, “Why not here?” And as luck would have it they posted a “barista wanted” sign in the window. With my one-year-worth of experience as a barista at Starbucks in the States, I walked up to the counter with confidence and asked the dreadlocked manager for a job.

“Do you know how to make coffee?” he asked.

“Why yes sir,” I replied. “I worked at Starbucks.”

“Then you don’t know how to make coffee,” he said with a judgmental look and continued what he was doing.

At first I chucked it up to Aussie arrogance. But the more I traveled and the more I tasted, the more I realized how right he was.

Forgetting all the reasons people hate or love Starbucks, I’m sorry but their coffee is not very good.

I know the company treats their employees well, but giving an 18-year-old an hour-long online course and a few hours of training at an automatic coffee machine, does not make him or her a barista.

I learned this in Australia, but am now trying to learn what does make a person a barista in New Zealand. What I’m finding is that it’s practice and attention.

It’s amazing how much they care about coffee down here and quite refreshing. It’s not just a job, it’s an art.

I was a frequent customer at a tiny cafe called Origins in Port Douglas. The barista there would buy antique or hard to find coffee-making objects. I saw through him what it meant to care about coffee. It payed off, I couldn’t get enough of the place and still long for their cappuccinos.

I worked at a small cafe called Neighbours on Chapel Street in Melbourne and the baristas there were obsessed with creating a perfect cup of coffee for each customer each time. As a waitress there I saw what that meant when most customers averaged three cups and quite a few visited more than once a day.

I’m not saying that coffee is completely terrible in the states. In fact, I know it’s not. On a recent trip home, I visited a number of places that served coffee with attention. They created a perfect shot, frothed the milk just right and even created designs between the coffee in milk. I just think that places like these are unfortunately overlooked.

So I’m pledging to myself to learn to make coffee like they do down under and I think at home people should embrace small coffee shops that are doing something similar to here.

Banner photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon, taken at Rehab.

Know of a great coffee shop somewhere in Oz, NZ or USA? Post is below so readers know where to go.