Online security

Current ATO SMS and email activities

The ATO will occasionally use SMS and emails for promotional and information purposes.

Our SMS and email messages will never include, or ask you to provide, personal information, and do not require any form of reply.

SMS messages could include:

• reminders for lodgment or payment of BAS
• reminders for lodgment of income tax returns
• notification of service availability or system outages
• a request to contact the ATO to discuss income tax, ABN or activity statement information lodged
• confirmation of appointment and receipt
• notification of delay to electronically lodged tax returns.

Email messages could include:

• promoting a new ATO online service
• information on e-tax availability and updates
• activity statement updates
• subscription services, including RSS and newsletters
• a request to contact the ATO to discuss income tax, ABN or activity statement information lodged
• notification of delay to electronically lodged tax returns
• scam warning and online security reminders.

Current ATO SMS and email communications include, but are not limited to:

SMS

Topic	Subject	Audience	Timing
ABN Applications	Contact request to discuss ABN application	Individuals, micro and SME	Ongoing - commencing April 2012
Tax returns	Notification of delay to electronically lodged tax returns	Individual self preparers	Ongoing - commencing 30 July 2012
Business detail updates	Business detail updates	Business detail updates	Ongoing -commencing September 2012
Tax returns	Request to contact us to provide additional information regarding lodgment	Individuals, micro and SME	Ongoing - commencing October 2012
Activity statements	Request to contact us to provide additional information regarding lodgment	Individuals, micro and SME	Ongoing - commencing October 2012
Instalment notices	Request to contact us to provide additional information regarding lodgment	Individuals, micro and SME	Ongoing - commencing October 2012
January monthly BAS	Reminder to lodge and pay	Micro and SME	15 February 2013
January quarterly BAS	Reminder to lodge and pay	Micro and SME	22 February 2013
Indirect tax objections	Request to contact objection officer to provide additional information regarding objection	Individuals, micro and SME	Ongoing - commencing February 2013
February monthly BAS	Reminder to lodge and pay	Micro and SME	18 March 2013
March monthly BAS	Reminder to lodge and pay	Micro and SME	17 April 2013
March quarterly BAS	Reminder to lodge and pay	Micro and SME	24 April 2013
April monthly BAS	Reminder to lodge and pay	Micro and SME	17 May 2013
May monthly BAS	Reminder to lodge and pay	Micro and SME	17 June 2013

Email

Topic	Subject	Audience	Timing
ABN Applications	Contact request to discuss ABN application	Individuals, Micro and SME	Ongoing - commencing April 2012
Tax returns	Notification of delay to electronically lodged tax returns	Individual self preparers and tax agents	Ongoing - commencing 30 July 2012
Business Detail Updates	Business Detail Updates	Business Detail Updates	Ongoing - commencing September 2012
Tax returns	Request to contact us to provide additional information regarding lodgment	Individuals, Micro and SME	Ongoing - commencing October 2012
Activity Statements	Request to contact us to provide additional information regarding lodgment	Individuals, Micro and SME	Ongoing - commencing October 2012
Instalment Notices	Request to contact us to provide additional information regarding lodgment	Individuals, Micro and SME	Ongoing - commencing October 2012
Tax Time 2012	Reminder to lodge online using e-tax by 31 October.	Individuals	10 - 12 October 2012
Lodgment performance benchmark	Quarterly statement of tax agent income tax lodgment performance.	Tax Agents	Ongoing - commencing December 2012
Taxable Payments Annual Report	Information regarding client obligations to lodge Taxable Payment Annual Reports.	Tax Agents	14-17 May 2013