The Indigenous Helpline is available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Our Indigenous Helpline staff specialise in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with things like getting a tax file number, lodging a tax return, or finding your super.
You can phone us on 13 10 30 between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday (except public holidays).
Engage with us
When you phone we may ask for your tax file number (TFN). You don’t have to tell us, but it's easier to help you if you do. If you don't have a TFN, we can help you get one.
You can choose someone to phone us and act on your behalf for your tax and super. We call this person an authorised contact. Find out how you can give permission for someone to speak to us on your behalf at Update your authorised contacts.
If you're helping a friend, family member or a kinship carer with their tax or super, they must be with you when you phone unless we already have you on record as their authorised contact.
You can add, change, or remove authorised contacts by:
- using ATO Online services
- phoning us on the Indigenous Helpline
- completing and posting a Change of details for individuals form.
Indigenous Helpline
The ATO Indigenous Helpline is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Our staff on the Indigenous helpline may not be Indigenous themselves, but they specialise in helping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. They can help you with things like getting a TFN, lodging your tax return, or finding your super.
You can phone the Indigenous helpline on 13 10 30.
You should have your TFN or Australian business number (ABN) ready when you call. When you speak to a customer service representative, they may ask you a series of questions to help identify you. This helps protect your personal tax records.
Other phone services
If you're running a business or not-for-profit organisation, need help managing a debt, or you have questions about super, you can contact us to speak to a customer service representative.
If you are d/Deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech/communication difficulty you can contact us through the National Relay ServiceExternal Link (NRS), as follows:
- Contact the NRS through your preferred NRS call channel, detailed in NRS call numbers and linksExternal Link.
- Provide the NRS with the ATO phone number you want to call.
Order forms and publications
The ATO has tailored products for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. To order forms and publications, you can:
- phone the Indigenous Helpline on 13 10 30
- order publications onlineExternal Link (search ‘Indigenous’)
- phone our self-help publications ordering service on 1300 720 092 if you know the full title or NAT number of the publication.
Free tax help
Each year during tax time you can get free help lodging your tax return through the following services:
- Tax Help program
- National Tax Clinic program
- Online education sessions
- Self-service at Services Australia.
Tax Help program
Our Tax Help program is for people on incomes around $70,000 or less a year. From July to October each year, trained volunteers help people lodge their tax returns online. The volunteers can also help with:
- creating a myGov account
- correcting or amending your previous tax returns
- lodging tax returns from prior years.
The ATO has Tax Help centres located across Australia, with some centres providing specialised support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Volunteers can also help you online or by phone if you live in a rural or remote location.
Our eligibility information and Tax Help posters are available in 14 Indigenous languages. You can access these from our:
- Information in other languages page
- Publication ordering serviceExternal Link – you can download them or request a copy by email.
Find out more at Tax Help program or phone the Indigenous Helpline on 13 10 30 for your nearest Tax Help centre.
National Tax Clinic program
If you are not eligible for Tax Help, you may be able to access free advice and support through the National Tax Clinic program. The program is a government-funded initiative to help people who may not be able to afford professional advice and representation with their tax affairs.
Online education sessions
We also have teams available to provide free tax and super education sessions to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Sometimes, we can also attend community events. To book a session or invite us to your community expo, email CommunityEducation@ato.gov.au.
Self-service at Services Australia
You can visit a Services Australia service centreExternal Link to use the self-service facilities to access ATO online services via myGov.
You can also contact us by phone at the service centres.
Support in difficult times
We have support available for people who have experienced a natural disaster, personal crisis, or financial struggles. We understand that during difficult times, managing your tax and super isn’t your top priority.
If you’re having trouble, you can call us to let us know, and we can find a support option that helps you. This might include:
- giving you extra time to lodge or pay
- processing your tax return quickly
- setting up a payment plan.
Find out more information at Tax support for when you need it most.
Natural disaster support
If you’ve been impacted by a natural disaster or extreme weather, such as a bushfire, cyclone, drought, flood or storm, we can help you manage your tax and super.
We usually stop sending letters to people in impacted areas and, once the disaster is over, we can help you get back on track. We can help you:
- replace tax records that you may need to claim deductions or government payments
- cancel penalties or interest applied to your tax during the natural disaster
- set up a payment plan.
Find out more at natural disaster support.
Personal crisis and hardship support
If you have experienced mental health struggles, family or domestic violence, serious financial hardship, or a death to someone close to you, we have options to help you. You can call us on 13 10 30 to explain what has happened. We can help you figure out the next steps and give you information for other support services.
If you can't afford basic necessities for yourself or your family, we call that serious financial hardship. Necessities are things like food, shelter, clothing, medical treatment, and education.
If you’re in this situation, we can help by processing your tax return quickly or cancelling some or all or your tax debt. If you need to claim serious hardship, we may ask you to provide proof. You can find more details on this at evidence of serious hardship.