Notification of a Deceased Person (NAT 74279) — ATO

What is Notification of a deceased person (NAT 74279)?

When someone dies, the Australian Taxation Office needs to be told officially so it can update their tax record and deal with the executor or administrator of their estate. NAT 74279 is the paper form for doing that by mail, with a certified copy of the death certificate.

Section A covers the person who died: their name, tax file number if you know it, dates of birth and death, and their last postal and home addresses as the ATO had them. Section B is for the legal personal representative (the executor named in the will, or an administrator appointed by the court). It adds them as the authorised contact on the record and can ask for a Deceased estate data package. Section C is the declaration, signed by whoever completes the form.

FileIt fills in the ATO's own PDF from your answers, checks the TFN check digits and the dates, and saves the completed form in your vault. You print it, sign it and post it with certified copies of the supporting documents. FileIt doesn't send anything to the ATO.

Who needs to fill out Notification of a deceased person (NAT 74279)?

• A relative of someone who has died, who wants to notify the ATO officially and has the death certificate.
• The executor named in the will, or a court-appointed administrator, who wants to be recorded as the authorised contact for the deceased estate.
• A legal practitioner, tax agent or BAS agent appointed by the executor or administrator, notifying the ATO by mail.
• An executor or administrator who wants a Deceased estate data package of the ATO's information on the person's income and assets.

When to use Notification of a deceased person (NAT 74279)

• After the death, once you have the death certificate (or a grant of probate or letters of administration).
• If you intend to apply for probate or letters of administration, the ATO suggests waiting for the court grant before sending the form, to avoid delays.
• If you notified the ATO before you had the grant, you can send a new form later with the grant to be recorded as the legal personal representative.
• If you can attend a participating Australia Post outlet, the ATO's online form and an interview there is the alternative to posting certified copies.

What you need before you start

• The deceased person's full name, dates of birth and death, and their tax file number if you know it.
• Their postal address and home address as they were when they last dealt with the ATO, for example on their last notice of assessment.
• A certified copy of the death certificate. An executor with probate sends a certified copy of the grant of probate; an administrator, the letters of administration. Without probate, a copy of the will.
• For Section B: your own TFN, full name, date of birth, phone number, email, postal and home addresses, the postal address for notices on the deceased person's record, and your tax agent's registered number if you nominate one.
• For the declaration: the name, phone number and email of the person signing.

What’s on Notification of a deceased person (NAT 74279)

The 2025 edition has 4 pages. FileIt asks for it in 3 parts, and it is signed by Person notifying the ato:

1. Section A: Deceased person's detailsPerson notifying the ato
2. Section B: Legal personal representative detailsPerson notifying the ato
3. Section C: DeclarationPerson notifying the ato

How to fill out Notification of a deceased person (NAT 74279), step by step

1 Question 1: the death certificate

The form only works with a certified copy of the death certificate. If you don't have one yet, the ATO says you can phone 13 28 61 and it may still record some information about the death. FileIt stops you if you answer No.

2 Questions 2 to 7: the person who died

Give their title and full name, their TFN (or leave it blank if you don't know it), dates of birth and death, and their last postal address. If their home address was different, give that too. It must be a street address, not a PO box.

3 Questions 8 to 10: executor or administrator

Switch on Section B only if you are the executor or administrator. Choose the supporting document you are sending: the will and death certificate, letters of administration, or the grant of probate. Then say whether you want a Deceased estate data package, which is only available to a legal personal representative with probate or letters of administration.

4 Questions 11 to 17: your details

Your TFN, name, contact numbers (at least one is required), email, date of birth, postal and home addresses, and the postal address you want the ATO to use for notices on the deceased person's record. Add a registered tax agent number if you are nominating one.

5 Question 18 and the declaration

The person signing gives their full name, a phone number and email, then signs and dates the declaration that the information is true and correct. Penalties may apply for false or misleading information.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Sending original documents. Send certified copies: the ATO doesn't return documents you mail.
• Sending a death certificate or grant that hasn't been certified, or a copy that has been altered.
• Leaving out a contact number. The form says one must be provided.
• Giving a PO box as the home address.
• Expecting to be recorded as the authorised contact without probate or letters of administration. With only a will, the ATO notes you as managing the estate's tax affairs but can't record you as the legal personal representative.

After you fill it out

Print the PDF, sign and date the declaration, and post it with the certified supporting documents to Australian Taxation Office, PO Box 3006, Penrith NSW 2750. Keep a copy.

The form says the ATO aims to process it within 28 days of receiving all the necessary information, and asks you not to lodge another form during that time.

Keep the completed form and copies of what you sent in your FileIt vault with the rest of the estate papers.

Notification of a deceased person (NAT 74279): frequently asked questions

Official sources

• Blank form (PDF), published by Australian Taxation Office (ATO): https://www.ato.gov.au/api/public/content/568f369b-7036-473c-a43a-fbd58c5b38af_54368ed7_9a31_45c8_abdb_5ff063e98ece_pdf
• Official instructions and guidance: https://www.ato.gov.au/forms-and-instructions/deceased-estates-notify-us-of-a-death-paper-form
• Edition shown on this page: NAT 74279-07.2025 (checked 2026-10-25).

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 2026-10-25.

Related forms

All Australia forms · Every form FileIt can fill