Updating parental income details

You’ll need to update your income details if you or your child get a letter from us asking for these.

What you need to do

If you or your child get a letter from us asking what your income is, you need to tell us. We need this information so we can pay your child.

You must do one of the following:

  • tell us your annual income
  • give us an estimate of your income.

If your child gets Youth Allowance

If your child gets Youth Allowance you need to tell us your income by the date in your child’s letter. If you don’t we’ll suspend your child’s payment. After this we may cancel your child’s payment and they may need to reapply.

If your child gets ABSTUDY

If your child gets ABSTUDY you need to tell us your income by 31 December. If you don’t, we may reduce your child’s ABSTUDY to zero.

What details we need

We need your annual income details or an estimate of your annual income if you haven’t lodged a tax return.

If you give us an income estimate, we’ll need a copy of your Notice of Assessment. This will be for the financial years we ask for. You’ll get a Notice of Assessment after you lodge your tax return. You can submit this document online.

Your annual income may include:

  • combined taxable income
  • tax free pensions and benefits
  • fringe benefits
  • income from outside Australia
  • reportable superannuation contributions
  • net investment losses, including negative gearing for property and shares.

If you’ve paid child maintenance during the last financial year, we’ll deduct this amount from your income.

How to give us your income details

If we send a letter asking you to update your income details you can give them to us online.

You can give us your income details using one of the following:

If you use the Advise Parental Income service you’ll need all of the following:

You must enter your child’s name exactly as it appears in the letter.

One Time Access Code

The letter we sent to you or your child will include a One Time Access Code (OTAC). You’ll need this to give us your income details. The OTAC connects your information to your child.

If you lose the OTAC, you’ll need to contact us so we can give you another one. You can:

If you call us or visit a service centre we’ll need your child’s full name, date of birth and CRN.

If you have Centrelink linked to your myGov account, follow these steps:

  1. Sign in to myGov.
  2. Select Centrelink.
  3. Select Income and Assets from the menu, then below Family or parental income, select Advise Parental Income.
  4. Select using a One Time Access Code (OTAC) printed on a letter sent to your child or their nominee.
  5. Select Next.
  6. Complete the questions in each section to progress.

If you don’t have a myGov account or Centrelink linked, you’ll need to use your OTAC. Follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Advise Parental Income online service.
  2. Select using a One Time Access Code (OTAC) printed on a letter sent to your child or their nominee.
  3. Select Next.
  4. Enter your child’s CRN and Access Code, then select Login.
  5. Complete the questions.

Page last updated: 15 April 2021