Hi all.I am relatively new to the forum and so far have found it great for information and hints/tips about living in Australia.
I was wondering if anyone knew the answer to the following question that i was asked a few weeks ago and reminded of today.

Does a TFN expire?For example,does it expire when visa does?If you return on a different visa do you need to get another number?

And following on from that question made me wonder what do people do when they overstay their visas?Do they give up work because they cannot pay tax?Work cash only jobs?Why do they do it if they cannot earn a decent living?

A TFN is for life. Once you have one you keep the same one regardless of what visa you are on, citizenship status, etc.

What do you mean by overstay your visa? Do you mean when the travel part of the PR visa expires? Or do you mean people who come on a non-PR visa and overstay?

If its the former - your PR visa is valid for as long as you're in Australia (in general ) - the 5 year 'expiration date' refers to the ability to travel in and out of Australia, so you would obviously still be able to legally work and pay tax even if that part of the visa had run out.

If its the latter - I would imagine illegal immigrants (which is what they would then be) would work cash in hand jobs. They would do it because they don't want to (or can't afford to) go back to their country of origin, or perhaps because even working cash in hand jobs leaves them better off than they would be 'at home'.

I am on a spose visa,so if we return home for a few years and then come back to oz[my visa would still be valid]I would just use the same TFN?

Was just curious about how people manage when they overstay their visa,like many WHV seem to do.

The friend who asked me this is returning to england but hope to return in the future on a more long term visa.They would retain the same TFN also?Would just be invalid until or if they get the new visa?

Thank you for your replies.