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Starting work? A guide for teenagers joining the workforce
Compare super funds for teenagers and learn what your tax obligations are when starting your first job.
We’re reader-supported and may be paid when you visit links to partner sites. We don’t compare all products in the market, but we’re working on it!
There's a few things to organise before you start your first job. Firstly, you'll need a bank account to receive your salary or wages into. And as soon as you start earning an income, you'll also be required to lodge a tax return and your employer may be required to make superannuation payments into your nominated fund.
If you or someone you know is about to join the workforce for the first time, this guide can help outline what you need to set up before starting work and how to do it. You can also compare a range of different financial products in this guide.
Finder Award
Finder Awards Winner: Best Super Fund - Balanced, 2019 and 2020
AustralianSuper is an industry super fund and Australia's largest super fund. Its Balanced option is one of the top-performing funds for 10-year returns.
AustralianSuper is an industry super fund and Australia's largest super fund. Its Balanced option is one of the top-performing funds for 10-year returns.
Spaceship's investment portfolio has a strong focus on technology stocks.
Spaceship's Growth X fund is a high-growth option that invests heavily in Australian and international shares, aiming for strong long-term returns.
Spaceship's Growth X fund is a high-growth option that invests heavily in Australian and international shares, aiming for strong long-term returns.
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Sunsuper Lifecycle Balanced is a MySuper fund that invests in a large range of asset classes and adjusts your investment mix in line with your age.
Superannuation for teenagers and new workers
Superannuation is compulsory for Australian workers. Superannuation is how you'll save for retirement (even though this seems like a long way away now!). If you're over 18 years of age earning a minimum of $450 monthly before tax, you will be entitled to superannuation guarantee contributions from your employer.
Your employer is required to pay 9.5% of your annual earnings into your super fund. This figure will gradually increase over the next few years until it gets to 12%. Similar to tax, your superannuation contributions are something that your employer is required to manage on your behalf. Your employer will pay the super you're entitled to into your nominated fund each quarter.
Your employer may have a preferred super fund, but you're also entitled to choose your own fund. as a young person new to the workforce, it's important to look for a fund that charges low fees. You might also want to consider what insurances you need, if any, included in your super. For example, if you're in your teens you may not think it's necessary to have life insurance or income protection.
What you need to do
- Compare super funds (you can do this in the table below) and join the fund as a member.
- Complete the superannuation choice form that your employer gives you with your super fund details and membership number.
- If you're entitled to super contributions, make sure your employer is paying these by regularly checking your payslips and your super fund statement.
Compare super funds when starting work
*Past performance data is for the period ending December 2020.
Opening a bank account in your name
If you don't already have one, you'll need to open a bank account in your name to receive your salary or wages into. It's very rare to be paid in cash these days, and even if you are paid in cash it's a good idea to have a bank account to deposit the money into where it's safe.
Your bank account will come with a debit card that you can use to access your money at ATMs and EFTPOS terminals.
What you need to do
- Open an Australian transaction account that accepts deposits (not a savings account).
- Your employer will give you a form to complete with your bank details. Fill in the BSB and Account Number for your bank account, which can be found in your Internet or mobile banking portal.
- Get into the habit of checking you're paid correctly each payday by looking at your payslip and making sure this is the amount that was put into your bank account.
You can compare Australian bank accounts in our guide, and open one online for free in minutes.
Your tax obligations when starting work
When you branch out on your own and start earning an income you'll be required to lodge a tax return and pay tax. That is, if you earn enough to be taxed. Working Australians who earn less than $18,200 in a year are not required to pay any tax. If you earn over this, you'll need to pay tax according to how much you've earned.
If you're required to pay tax, you don't personally need to make this payment to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) yourself (unless you're self-employed). Your employer will withhold a percentage of your pay each payday for tax. At the end of the financial year if you've paid too much tax throughout the year you'll get the amount you've overpaid back. If you haven't paid enough tax, you'll be required to pay the amount owing.
To help manage this process, it's important that you set up your tax file number. This number stays with you throughout your working life, and is used by both your employer and the ATO to ensure you're paying the correct amount of tax. If you don't set up a tax file number your employer will be forced to withhold tax from your salary or wages at the highest tax rate (currently 45%).
What you need to do:
- Register with the ATO to get yourself a tax file number
- Give your tax file number to your employer (they'll provide you with a form to complete)
- Lodge your tax return with the ATO at the end of the financial year before the October 31 deadline. You can do this yourself online or you can use a tax agent.
- Remember to claim any work-related expenses as a tax deduction. You can learn more about what you can and can't claim on tax in our deductions guide.
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