Notifying government agencies after a death in Australia

There are more agencies to contact than most people expect. This guide covers who to notify, roughly in order of priority, and what to have ready.

Services Australia (Centrelink and Medicare)

Call 132 300 first. Services Australia will stop any Centrelink payments and advise on bereavement support you may be entitled to. Medicare is automatically cancelled when the death is registered with the state BDM registry, but confirm this when you call.

If the deceased was receiving a Centrelink payment, any amount paid after the date of death must be repaid. Notify the bank if direct deposit was set up.

Australian Taxation Office

Call 13 28 61 or engage a tax agent. A "date of death" tax return must be lodged for the income year in which the person died. Write the date of death on the return. If the estate generates income after death, a separate estate tax return (lodged in the name of the estate) will also be required.

To act as executor or administrator on behalf of the estate, you will need to notify the ATO and may need to apply for a separate Tax File Number (TFN) for the estate.

Department of Veterans' Affairs

If the deceased was a veteran or DVA recipient, call 1800 555 254. DVA will stop payments and advise on survivor entitlements including the War Widow/Widower's Pension and funeral benefit.

Superannuation funds

Contact each super fund the deceased held. Super does not automatically pass through the estate — it is paid according to a death benefit nomination or at the trustee's discretion. Ask for a death benefit claim form and a statement of the account balance. Time limits on claims can apply.

Australian Electoral Commission

Notify the AEC to cancel the deceased's enrolment. You can do this online at aec.gov.au or call 13 23 26. The AEC also accepts notification by post.

State transport authority

Cancel the driver's licence and any vehicle registrations with the state road authority — Transport for NSW, VicRoads, TMR (QLD), NTIS, DPTI (SA), DoT (WA), DIER (TAS), or Access Canberra. Requirements vary by state but typically need a certified death certificate.

Australia Post

Lodge a mail redirection at auspost.com.au or at a post office to redirect or hold mail. This is especially important if the property will be unoccupied.

Banks and financial institutions

Contact each bank, building society, or investment provider with a certified death certificate. Accounts are usually frozen pending estate administration. Joint accounts may remain accessible to the surviving account holder, but check with the bank.

Insurance companies

Notify life insurance providers promptly to begin the claims process. Also advise home, contents, and vehicle insurers — policies may need to be transferred or cancelled.

Credit reporting agencies

Notify Equifax (equifax.com.au), Experian (experian.com.au), and illion (illion.com.au) by certified letter with a copy of the death certificate. This places a deceased flag on the credit file and helps prevent identity theft — deceased Australians are a known target.

ASIC

If the deceased was a company director or secretary, the company's records must be updated with ASIC within 28 days. Failure to update can result in penalties for remaining directors. Lodge the change of details at asic.gov.au.