You should never give out your personal information unless you're sure of who you are dealing with. This may result in far reaching identity compromise for victims. Last modified: 12 Aug 2020 QC 22602 It’s used for your tax return, benefit payments and superannuation services. The default setting for notification is email. If you receive an SMS or email that you think is fraudulent, you can report it by sending an email to reportemailfraud@ato.gov.au. The information below explains more about using the ATO messages in your myGov Inbox. If the person presses '1' and makes contact with the scammer they are typically told that their TFN had been suspended due to money laundering or other suspicious or fraudulent activity and that there are several allegations against them. All online management of your tax affairs should be carried out via your genuine myGov account. This is clearly marked. To make the message appear real, scammers may use technology that makes it appear in your legitimate ATO message feed. Scammers are sending text messages to people, asking them to click on a link to update their details in myGov. The ATO does not have an online ‘Tax Refund’ form and we will never send an email or SMS asking you to access online services via a hyperlink. I forgot to lodge a tax return and when I logged into myGov account it wa stating that it sent a code to my australian mobile. For this step, you’ll need your tax file number … The ATO does not need the bank account details of individual employees. If you are not sure whether an ATO call is legitimate, hang up and phone us on 1800 008 540 to check. This is the fastest, cheapest and most efficient way possible to find your lost tax file number. For questions about an ATO message you have received, call us on 13 28 61. © Australian Taxation Office for the Commonwealth of Australia. Remember to always exercise caution when clicking links or opening attachments in emails. These automated calls claim their TFN has been suspended and that there is a legal case against their name. mail we have sent to your agent in your Communication history in ATO online. If you feel that our information does not fully cover your circumstances, or you are unsure how it applies to you, contact us or seek professional advice. The link will take you to a fake myGov website, designed to steal your personal information. Where you have chosen to have mail come directly to you, it will be sent to your myGov Inbox if you have linked to us. We will never ask you to provide any personal identifying information in order to receive a refund. Who can apply for a tax file number online? Your TFN is: an … They are telling them that their employer has registered them for the JobKeeper Payment, but that the ATO needs their bank account details to deposit the funds into their account. Scammers are texting people, asking them to click on a link and provide personal identifying information to receive a refund. Having problems linking ATO to mygov even though I filled out the correct Tax File Number and my name. Make accessing your myGov account more secure by opting to receive a security code via SMS. It then asks them to update their bank and credit card details. You will then be asked to choose a linking option. The ATO will never send an email or SMS asking you to access online services via a hyperlink. Sometimes the scammer will ‘transfer’ the victim to the ‘police’ where they're told a case has been filed against them and they will be arrested unless they pay. You can make this more secure by updating your sign-in options at my.gov.au – so you receive a code by SMS when signing in. The types of ATO communications you may receive in your myGov Inbox include: ATO digital communications containing personal information, such as a tax file number, will be sent to your myGov Inbox, rather than your email account, due to legal and privacy requirements. If you unlink us from your myGov account, you will no longer be able to see: However if you relink you will be able to see the ATO messages you previously received to your myGov inbox and the mail we have sent to your agent. You will get email or SMS notifications from myGov whenever there are new messages in your myGov Inbox. Scam victims who have paid or provided sensitive personal identifying information to a scammer can call us on 1800 008 540. Find out how to apply for a TFN and keep your details safe. You can help us stop scammers in their tracks by warning your friends and family to stay alert. We’re receiving reports of email scams about JobKeeper and backing business investment claims. Employees that are eligible for JobKeeper payments will be paid by their employer and the ATO will reimburse their employer for these payments. Any communications containing your personal information, such as your tax file number (TFN), will be sent to your myGov Inbox, not your email account. They ask you to provide valuable personal information, including copies of your driver’s licence and Medicare card. Do not click on any links and do not disclose the information requested. – Tax file number – application or enquiry for individuals (NAT 1432) phone 1300 720 092 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Where would you like it sent? If you use ATO online services for individuals and sole traders, all online management of your tax affairs should be carried out in ATO online services, accessed through your genuine myGov account. It's also a good idea to know your tax affairs. You will get email or SMS notifications from myGov to let you know when there are new messages in your myGov Inbox. Email Mobile Scammers are using technology to make it look like the calls originate from a legitimate ATO phone number. These scammers will often request payment through unusual methods, such as cryptocurrency, pre-paid credit cards or gift cards, and will try to keep people on the line until they have paid. If you're concerned that a phone call, SMS text message, voice mail or email you receive claiming to be from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is not genuine, don’t reply to it. All online management of your tax affairs should be carried out in ATO online services, accessed through your genuine myGov account. This number may appear on caller ID, be left on voice mail messages for call backs, or directed by *69 for call back functionality. It is free to apply for a TFN. Do not provide the information requested. Scammers pretending to be from the ATO are contacting members of the community, telling them that they have a tax debt and that if they don't pay it straight away they will be arrested. The call tells people they must contact the caller by pressing '1' or they will be referred to the court and arrested. This number is 11 digits and is used to claim various grant credits, collect tax credits, file invoices, and more. If you click on the link it will take you to a fake ‘Tax Refund’ form in order to steal your personal information. When disasters like the recent bushfires strike, scammers will often try to take advantage of vulnerable Australians. If you think it's fraudulent, report it by sending an email to reportemailfraud@ato.gov.au. All online management of your tax affairs should be carried out in ATO online services accessed through your genuine myGov account. Make sure you have the information for the right year before making decisions based on that information. You can make … Call the myGov helpdesk on 13 23 07, select Option 1. The image below is one example of the format this scam can take. Most frequently the numbers appearing are 6216 1111 and 1800 467 033, but numbers for individual ATO staff members have been used as well. Update your sign-in options at my.gov.au so you receive a code by SMS when signing in. If you have vision impairment and use adaptive technology, you may not be able to access ATO letters sent through myGov. This privacy notice sets out how Services Australia collects, holds, uses and discloses personal information in relation to myGov. Contact the ATO. We've initiated disruption activity to protect the community from this scam, but it's a good idea to encourage your friends and family to keep an eye out. Some of the information on this website applies to a specific financial year. Call us. The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) is currently advising users of WhatsApp to update your app to apply the latest security updates and set your phone and devices to auto update. Scammers are constantly developing new ways to steal from the community, and will often try to take advantage of people when they are most vulnerable. The ATO does not have an online ‘Tax Refund’ form or website and we will never send an email or SMS asking you to access online services via a hyperlink. Scammers are emailing people from a fake myGov email address, asking them to fill out an application to receive a tax refund. If you already have a myGov … In addition to requesting payment via unusual methods, the scammers may also ask call recipients to send a photo of their driver’s licence, passport or other identity credential via WhatsApp. You can update your name online via MyGov, over the phone or by sending in a form. If you have a myGov account linked to us, you will automatically receive your ATO mail via your myGov Inbox. There has been an increase in scammers using WhatsApp to impersonate the ATO. When you access a Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) loan or a VET Student Loan you need to provide your TFN because repayments of your loan are made through the tax … This will link you to all of your financial and medical services if you have them set up and will help you lodge your tax … Log into myGov… Remember to always exercise caution when clicking links or opening attachments in emails or SMS even if they are from someone you know. See Other languages. If you receive this call hang up and do not provide the information requested. It’s a quick and secure way to sign in to access ATO online services. You will receive updates on all new general content on our website, and the latest scam alerts. To change your Inbox notification preference, log-in your myGov account, select the Account Settings icon and select Inbox alerts. The image below is one example of the format this scam can take. They're then asked to provide the last four digits of their TFN, address, date of birth, name of their bank account, and the approximate amount of money in the account/s. We will never send unsolicited pre-recorded messages to your phone or threaten you with immediate arrest. The image below is one example of an SMS scam currently circulating. We're now using the myGov Inbox. This is to help you manage your tax and super affairs in one place and make record keeping easier and more secure. Finding your TFN Online In 2013, the government introduced myGov, a one-stop shop for … This is clearly marked. You should tell us as soon as possible if your TFN is stolen or misused. If your circumstances mean you need to receive your ATO mail through the post, call us on 13 28 61. Tax file number The tax file number… If you follow our information and it turns out to be incorrect, or it is misleading and you make a mistake as a result, we will take that into account when determining what action, if any, we should take. Don’t click any links and don’t provide the information requested. If you have an existing ATO online account, simply use your tax file number and ATO online account password to link myGov to your ATO records. Tax file number. Hang up and delete the message. links to our online services to allow you to perform online transactions, such as viewing your account, making payments, or lodging activity statements. Sign in to your myGov account at my.gov.au. For previous identification cards the passport or travel document number will be PLO56 or PL56. Scammers are sending text messages to people, asking them to click on a link and provide personal identifying information to receive a tax refund. If you aren't sure whether an ATO call is legitimate, hang up and phone us on 1800 008 540 to check. "A Tax File Number is an important part of confirming your identity and we encourage taxpayers to keep it safe. © Australian Taxation Office for the Commonwealth of Australia. If you receive an SMS or email from the ATO that you think is fraudulent, report it by sending an email to reportemailfraud@ato.gov.au. The fake emails say we're investigating your claims. It’s a quick and secure way to sign in to access ATO online services. Username or email address We will send you a code. STUDENT FACT SHEET: TAX FILE NUMBER (TFN) MISMATCH Why do I have to supply my TFN to access a HELP or VET Student loan? We are working to fix this. Sign in to your myGov account at my.gov.au. You need to have ATO linked to your myGov profile. Be wary of emails, phone calls and text messages claiming to be from the ATO. myGov is run by Services Australia on behalf of the Australian Government. You are free to copy, adapt, modify, transmit and distribute this material as you wish (but not in any way that suggests the ATO or the Commonwealth endorses you or any of your services or products). Then fill in your … You are free to copy, adapt, modify, transmit and distribute this material as you wish (but not in any way that suggests the ATO or the Commonwealth endorses you or any of your services or products). Make accessing ATO online services via your myGov account more secure. Scammers are texting people, asking them to click on a link and provide personal identifying information to receive a tax refund. Sign in to your myGov account at my.gov.au. We're receiving reports of scammers sending members of the public automated phone calls pretending to be from the ATO, as well as other government agencies including Services Australia and the Department of Legal Services. If you don’t have a myGov account linked to us, you will continue to receive your ATO mail via the post, or your tax or BAS agent will receive it digitally or via the post. Send your completed TFN application and … I have not connected yet I have connected You can save or print your mail for your own records. Always access our online services directly via one of the following: All online management of your personal tax affairs should be done in ATO online services, accessed through your genuine myGov account. Don’t fret – you can find your TFN on: • previous year notices of assessment we’ve sent you • payment summaries from your employer • statements from your super fund. We are committed to providing you with accurate, consistent and clear information to help you understand your rights and entitlements and meet your obligations. Cyber criminals can also use vulnerabilities in apps such as WhatsApp to access your phone or device. If you've linked us to your myGov account, most of your mail from us will now come directly to your myGov Inbox, rather than through the post. It represents the many ways that OTR is at the forefront of making tax … If you receive an ATO impersonation scam phone call or text message, and have not paid or provided sensitive personal identifying information to the scammer, you can report the scam online. The ATO does not have a profile on WhatsApp and will never engage with you on this platform. Do not click on these links and do not disclose the information requested. Current reports indicate the scam is the latest twist to the fake tax debt scam where scammers issue a pre-recorded voice message to your phone demanding immediate payment of a tax debt and threatening immediate arrest. Not all agents are using communication preferences. The ATO can be reached via the number … Similar to the alert we issued in August, scammers are texting people asking them to click on a link and provide personal identifying information to receive a refund. Do not click on any links and do not disclose the information requested. Scammers do this to make the calls seem more valid when they call people a second time. A Tax File Number – sometimes shortened to TFN – is a unique ID number that you get from the government. You also need it to apply for an Australian Business Number … Never give out any sensitive personal identifying information unless you can independently verify the identity of the person or organisation you are providing it to. Setup mygov and link to ATO online services, Amounts you don't need to include as income, Occupation and industry specific income and work-related expenses, Financial difficulties and serious hardship, Instalment notices for GST and PAYG instalments, Your obligations to workers and independent contractors, Encouraging NFP participation in the tax system, Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, Departing Australia Superannuation Payment, Small Business Superannuation Clearing House, Annual report and other reporting to Parliament, Complying with procurement policy and legislation, Get started with myGov and ATO online services, When you can't log in to your myGov account, Accessing online services with myGovID and RAM, Accessing our online services with a Basic myGovID, Digital service provider Operational Framework, October 2020 ATO Impersonation scam report, September 2020 ATO impersonation scam report, August 2020 ATO impersonation scam report, Data breach guidance for tax professionals, Protective measures for individuals following a data breach, Troubleshooting for businesses and tax practitioners, Archived ATO myGov terms and conditions and privacy notices, ATO myGov terms and conditions and privacy notices, Two week lodgment concession - terms and conditions, Access Manager permissions for ATO and ABR online services, February 2020 ATO impersonation scam report, December 2019 ATO impersonation scam report, November 2019 ATO impersonation scam report, October 2019 ATO Impersonation Scam Report, October 2020 email scam – JobKeeper and backing business investment claims, September 2020 phone and SMS scams – fake tax debt, July 2020 SMS and email scams – verify your myGov details, June 2020 phone scam – threatening arrest and requesting personal details, May 2020 phone scam – requesting bank account details for the JobKeeper payment, March 2020 SMS scam – tax refund notification, February 2020 SMS scam – 8% bonus for people affected by natural disasters, January 2020 SMS scam – tax refund notification, October 2019 SMS scam – 'update your details' request, August 2019 SMS scam – tax refund notification, June 2019 – fake tax debt scam via WhatsApp, May 2019 SMS scam – tax refund notification, April 2019 phone scam – imitating ATO phone numbers, March 2019 email scam – myGov tax refund notification, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, log in to ATO online services through myGov to check your individual tax affairs, log in to the Business Portal to check your business tax affairs, demand immediate payment, particularly through unusual means such as bitcoin, pre-paid credit cards or gift cards, refuse to allow you to speak with a trusted advisor or your regular tax agent, asks you to click a link that appears to be the myGov website but when hovering over the link it does not lead to a my.gov.au address. Your Tax File Number (also known as a TFN) is a 9-digit number, issued by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), that’s unique to you. The link in this scam will take you to a fake myGov website. However, these messages will never include a link to log on to your myGov account. Scammers are exploiting Australia's recent natural disasters in an SMS scam that is asking people to click on a link and provide personal information in order to receive an 8% bonus on their tax return. Make accessing ATO online services via your myGov account more secure. Our messages in your myGov Inbox may contain: If your mobile phone number or email address is on your ATO record, you may also get SMS messages or emails directly from us reminding you of important dates or asking you to contact us. If you don't have an ATO online account, you’ll need to … Don’t provide the information requested, and delete the email straight away. Keep reading for a list of records and documents you need for both options. We are committed to providing you with accurate, consistent and clear information to help you understand your rights and entitlements and meet your obligations. If you are deaf, or have a hearing or speech impairment call us using the National Relay ServiceExternal Link. Instead you should: Keep informed of new scam alerts by subscribing to general email updates. This is particularly important in the current environment, as scams often spike when people are most vulnerable. Hello, I was an international student in Australia and I am already back home. Sometimes they advise the victim will receive mail to their home or that their bank accounts will be closed. Contact us about using your myGov account. If you have a tax agent or BAS agent managing your affairs, they may ask you to choose where we send your ATO communications and set your communication preferences. The image below is one example of an email scam currently circulating. Update your sign-in options at my.gov.au so you receive a code by SMS when signing in. We do what we can to stop scammers in their tracks, but it’s important to stay vigilant and warn your family and friends. The image below is one example of the format this scam can take. We're concerned about the increasing number of people paying fake tax debt scammers. If you've linked us to your myGov account, most of your ATO mail will now come directly to your myGov Inbox, rather than through the post. myGov: how your Tax File Number links all your Government services: Sign up for a myGov account : https://my.gov.a u “ A simple and secure way to access government services ”. The website is a phishing page and is being used to harvest user credentials. If you click on the link in this scam, it will take you to a fake ‘Tax Refund’ form. And fees administered by OTR scammers use technology that makes their message appear real scammers technology... 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