I submitted my tax return in Australia last time more than 15 y ago, and then moved to Thailand, where I've been living since then.  Now I'm considering returning to Australia and becoming a tax a resident there again. According to online information, the ATO keeps individual's tax records for only 5 years.  I've lost my TFN and tax paper records and so I wonder if I'll need to apply for a new TFN. Or should I try to resurrect the old one somehow, if it still exists in the ATO's database?

I think you're getting confused with the records that you have to keep.

 

The ATO will have all of your details either online or on microfiche.

 

You generally only get one TFN.

You will need to phone them.

TFN's are like a Driver's License number, you only get one.

 

If you need to start the ball rolling before you return, go into your online Australian bank account. Fair chance you told your bank your TFN, otherwise they would have taxed your interest at 48%.  You should be able to dig up your TFN that way. 

 

Hell of a time to be returning to Australia, after 15 years away.  Good Luck. 

4 hours ago, Will27 said:

I think you're getting confused with the records that you have to keep.

 

The ATO will have all of your details either online or on microfiche.

 

You generally only get one TFN.

You will need to phone them.

According to this it's generally only 7 years:
https://community.ato.gov.au/s/question/a0J9s0000001Gs5EAE/p00041155

3 hours ago, sojourner007 said:

According to this it's generally only 7 years:
https://community.ato.gov.au/s/question/a0J9s0000001Gs5EAE/p00041155

It also says "It depends on what you're after".

 

They will still have your TFN on record.

You will have to call them.

6 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

TFN's are like a Driver's License number, you only get one.

 

If you need to start the ball rolling before you return, go into your online Australian bank account. Fair chance you told your bank your TFN, otherwise they would have taxed your interest at 48%.  You should be able to dig up your TFN that way. 

 

Hell of a time to be returning to Australia, after 15 years away.  Good Luck. 

Seriously doubt his TFN Will be available online on his bank account.

18 hours ago, Will27 said:

Seriously doubt his TFN Will be available online on his bank account.

It was just a thought.  I remember seeing it in my online banking.  I just had a look and you can enter your TFN, or edit it, but when I clicked "edit" the old number didn't come up and you had to enter a new number.  Maybe the OP's bank is different.  Worth a look, for all of 30 seconds.