ATO Application for Release from Tax Debt (NAT 15080)

What is Application for release from tax debt (NAT 15080)?

The Application for release, NAT 15080, is how an individual asks the Australian Taxation Office to release them from paying some or all of certain tax debts because paying would cause serious hardship. The ATO considers the whole financial position of the household, so the form asks for much more than the debt itself.

You explain why the tax wasn't paid by the due date, what you've done to try to pay it, and how you'll pay future tax bills. Then you list the people in your household and anyone you support, your and your spouse's income, your regular expenses, vehicles, your home and mortgages, other assets, bank accounts, credit cards, other loans and any businesses you've run. You sign and date it, and your spouse or partner signs too if applicable.

FileIt walks you through every section of the current edition (NAT 15080-03.2022) and prints your answers into the ATO's own PDF — TFNs, dates and postcodes in their boxes, your written answers wrapped onto the lines, and the income, expense and final totals calculated for you. It checks your TFN and ABN and saves the finished application to your vault. You post it to the ATO yourself; FileIt never submits anything.

Who fills it: An individual with a tax debt, with details of their spouse or partner and household
Given to: Australian Taxation Office, Reply Paid 3129, PENRITH NSW 2740 (no stamp needed)
When: When paying a tax debt would cause you serious hardship, once all outstanding returns and activity statements are lodged
Signatures: You, and your spouse or partner if applicable
Pages: 6, covering your details, spouse, the debt, household and financial position
Edition: NAT 15080-03.2022

Who needs to fill out Application for release from tax debt (NAT 15080)?

Individuals who owe the ATO a tax debt and cannot pay it without being unable to provide for themselves and their family.
People whose circumstances changed after the debt arose — for example illness, injury, loss of work or a failed business.
Couples where both partners are applying — the form asks whether your spouse or partner is also applying, with their TFN.
Financial counsellors and tax agents helping a client prepare a release application.

When to use Application for release from tax debt (NAT 15080)

After reading the ATO's information about release from your tax debt.
Once all your outstanding income tax returns and activity statements are lodged, so the ATO knows the total you owe.
After any unresolved dispute with the ATO about the debt has been finalised — the form says it needs to be finalised first.
If you'd like to discuss payment options first, the form gives the ATO's debt line, 13 11 42.

What you need before you start

Your tax file number, and your spouse's or partner's if they are also applying.
Your contact details, postal and home addresses, and your income sources.
Details of everyone living with you and anyone you support: names, dates of birth, relationships, income and contributions.
Your and your spouse's income before and after tax, and your household expenses, all at one frequency (weekly, fortnightly or monthly).
Vehicles, your home (address, title holders, purchase date and price, market value), mortgages, other assets, bank account balances, credit cards and other loans.
Any business you or your spouse have operated, with its ABN and start and cease dates.
Copies of supporting documents if you choose to send them — the form says not to send originals.

What’s on Application for release from tax debt (NAT 15080)

The 2022 edition has 6 pages. FileIt asks for it in 15 parts, and it is signed by Applicant:

1. Your detailsApplicant
2. Your spouse or partnerApplicant
3. Questions about your tax debtApplicant
4. Your householdApplicant
5. Financial information — incomeApplicant
5. Financial information — expensesApplicant
5. Motor vehiclesApplicant
5. Your home and mortgagesApplicant
5. Other assetsApplicant
5. Bank accountsApplicant
5. Credit cardsApplicant
5. Other loansApplicant
5. BusinessesApplicant
6. Other detailsApplicant
DeclarationApplicant

How to fill out Application for release from tax debt (NAT 15080), step by step

1 Section 1: your details

Give your date of birth, name, best business-hours phone number, email, postal and home addresses, and whether each address should be recorded for all your ATO accounts. Tick your income source and name the employer, business or payment type. Say whether your income has changed since your last return and whether you have any current compensation claims.

2 Section 2: your spouse or partner

If a spouse or partner lives with you, give their name and date of birth, and whether they are also applying for release — if they are, their TFN. The declaration confirms you have their consent to provide their information.

3 Section 3: questions about your tax debt

Explain why you didn't pay your tax by the due date, what you've done to try to pay it off, and how you'll pay future tax bills if you are released. If you need more room, use a numbered separate page with your name, TFN and the question.

4 Section 4: your household

List everyone living with you, with their date of birth, relationship, fortnightly income and what they contribute to household expenses, and anyone not living with you whom you support financially, with the fortnightly amount.

5 Section 5: financial information

Choose weekly, fortnightly or monthly and use it throughout. Enter income before tax for you and your spouse, and your totals after tax (A). List housing (mortgage, rent or board) and each household, vehicle and other expense; FileIt adds up total expenses (B) and income (A) less expenses (B). Then give your vehicles, home and mortgages, other assets, bank accounts, credit cards, other loans and businesses.

6 Section 6 and the declaration

Attach any other factors that support your application on a separate page, and say how you found out about the form. Sign and date the declaration on page 1, and say whether you authorise your spouse or partner to discuss your tax affairs with the ATO for this application; your spouse or partner signs too if applicable.

Common mistakes to avoid

Applying before all outstanding income tax returns and activity statements are lodged.
Leaving questions blank — the form asks for N/A where a question doesn't apply.
Mixing weekly, fortnightly and monthly amounts in the financial section.
Leaving out assets or accounts held by your spouse, partner or dependants — the form asks for all of them.
Sending original documents instead of copies.
Forgetting to sign and date the application.

After you fill it out

Check every total and sign and date the declaration (and have your spouse or partner sign, if applicable). Number any extra pages and include your name, TFN and the question number.

Post it to Australian Taxation Office, Reply Paid 3129, PENRITH NSW 2740 — the form says no stamp is needed. You can keep making payments towards the debt while the ATO considers your application.

The ATO will process your application and notify you of the outcome. FileIt keeps the completed PDF in your vault with your tax records.

Fill out Application for release from tax debt (NAT 15080) online with FileIt

Pick the person. Choose someone from People and FileIt fills in their name, date of birth, address and other details it already knows.
Answer plain-language questions. One part of the form at a time, with the official help text beside each question — 314 fields in all. Your answers save as you go.
Check the live preview. Watch your answers land on the real Australian Taxation Office (ATO) form, and let FileIt do any worksheet arithmetic.
Generate the official PDF. FileIt prints your answers into the agency’s own PDF and files it in that person’s folder in your vault. Sign it, or send it for e-signature.

FileIt fills the form — it never files or submits anything for you. Deliver the finished form to whoever asked for it, the way the form’s instructions say.

Start Application for release from tax debt (NAT 15080) now — it’s free

Application for release from tax debt (NAT 15080): frequently asked questions

What is NAT 15080?

It's the ATO's Application for release — the form individuals use to ask to be released from paying certain tax debts because of serious hardship.

Where do I send the application for release?

To Australian Taxation Office, Reply Paid 3129, PENRITH NSW 2740. The form says a postage stamp is not needed. FileIt prepares the PDF but doesn't send it.

Do I have to give my tax file number?

The form says it is not an offence not to provide your TFN, but not doing so may delay your application.

Can I keep paying my debt while the ATO decides?

Yes — the form says you can continue to make payments towards your tax debt while it considers your application.

What if there isn't enough room on the form?

Write the additional information on a separate page. Number any additional pages and include your name, TFN and the question number.

Who can I call for help?

The form gives 13 11 42 (8.00am to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday) to discuss debt payment options before applying, and 1300 788 347 for questions about the form.

Does FileIt calculate the totals?

Yes. It adds your income before tax, your total expenses (B), and income (A) less expenses (B), and prints them in the form's total boxes.

Official sources

Blank form (PDF), published by Australian Taxation Office (ATO): https://www.ato.gov.au/api/public/content/753925f5-55e1-4ffa-b8c9-656336961e75_ApplnRelease_NAT15080_pdf
Official instructions and guidance: https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/paying-the-ato/help-with-paying/release-from-your-tax-debt
Edition shown on this page: NAT 15080-03.2022 (checked 2026-09-28).

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by Australian Taxation Office (ATO) or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-09-28.