No probs Bickerss,
I was just quoting from a recent share purchase document and it would appear from my interpretation of the document that if you don't supply a TFN that the company is required by law to deduct withholding tax at the highest tax rate ie in Australia it stands at 45%
The below quote is from the ATO website. Also the ATO are happy to supply an answer to any query ( and give you a private ruling if necessary) should you either call them direct or email them.
Hope it all works out in your favour.
Cheers
Non-residents
Withholding tax paid by non-residents is a final tax.
If you were not an Australian resident for tax purposes for all or part of the year, include dividend income paid or credited to you during that period on your tax return unless:
the dividend was fully franked, or
the dividend was not fully franked, but either:
withholding tax was (or should have been) withheld from the unfranked amount, or
the unfranked amount was declared to be conduit foreign income in the dividend statement.
On a separate piece of paper, print ‘schedule of additional information – item 11’. Provide details of any dividend you received during any period you were a non-resident that was not fully franked, and was not declared to be conduit foreign income, or on which you have not paid withholding tax.
Sign your schedule and attach it to your tax return. We will work out the amount of withholding tax you have to pay on the dividends, and advise you of the amount.
