Fraud targeting taxpayers and businesses continues to rise, with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) a frequent point of attack. One of the most effective ways to protect yourself is by using a strong myID that is securely linked to your ATO account.

This simple step can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorised access, identity theft and fraudulent activity.

What is myID and why is it important?

myID is the Australian Government’s digital identity used to securely access government services, including the ATO. It replaces older login methods and relies on advanced security features rather than passwords alone.

When myID is connected to your ATO account, it ensures that only verified individuals can access sensitive tax and business information, lodge documents, or make changes to your records.

How a strong myID helps prevent fraud

Once you have accessed your ATO account using a Strong myID, your account can only be accessed using a strong ID in future. Using a strong myID provides several key protections:

• Identity verification
  A strong myID requires robust identity checks, making it far harder for criminals to impersonate you or take control of your tax affairs.

• Reduced risk of unauthorised access
  Linking myID to the ATO helps prevent fraudulent changes such as altered bank details, false lodgements or unauthorised registrations.

• Protection against common scams
  Many ATO-related scams rely on stolen or guessed credentials. myID removes this vulnerability by using secure authentication rather than simple passwords.

• Greater control and visibility
  Clients can be confident that access to their ATO information is restricted to themselves and authorised agents, such as their accountant.

Why this matters for you

Fraud involving the ATO can have serious consequences, including financial loss, disrupted cash flow and time-consuming recovery processes. In some cases, refunds are diverted or false activity goes unnoticed until significant damage has occurred.

By setting up and maintaining a strong myID, you help safeguard you own information and prevent fraudulent access. If your account has previously been compromised in a data leak or by fraudulent activity, your account is often locked which requires a special request to unlock your account whenever information is required to complete your tax. If you have a strong myID linked to your ATO account, accessing your ATO account will become easier for you and your tax agent.

Our recommendation

We strongly encourage all clients to set up a strong myID and ensure it is correctly linked to their ATO account. This is a simple but highly effective step in protecting your tax affairs and reducing fraud risk.

Instructions on how to set up your myID or to increase its strength can be found here: https://www.ato.gov.au/online-services/online-services-for-individuals-and-sole-traders/increase-your-online-security-with-myid

If you are unsure whether your myID is set up correctly, or would like assistance linking it to the ATO, please contact our team. We are happy to guide you through the process and help ensure your information remains secure.