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Help for identity theft

If you know or suspect someone has stolen your tax file number or your tax-related information, contact us immediately.

Last updated 7 May 2025

If you know or suspect that someone has stolen your tax file number (TFN) or is using your tax-related information illegally, phone us on 1800 467 033 as soon as you can.

Depending on your situation, there are also other actions you can take if you suspect identity theft.

Identity theft – how to get help

Situation

What you should do

You think someone has stolen or misused your TFN, your Australian business number (ABN) or other tax-related information.

Phone us on 1800 467 033, between 8.00 am and 6.00 pm AEST, Monday to Friday.

You think someone accessed your myGov account, including your linked ATO online services, without your permission.

Phone us on 1800 467 033, between 8.00 am and 6.00 pm AEST, Monday to Friday.

You think someone has made fraudulent updates to your ATO record, including changing your bank account details.

Phone us on 1800 467 033, between 8.00 am and 6.00 pm AEST, Monday to Friday.

You think someone has falsely used your personal information to set up a self-managed super fund (SMSF) under your name or made changes to your existing SMSF to gain access to your superannuation.

Phone us on 1800 467 033, between 8.00 am and 6.00 pm AEST, Monday to Friday.

You must report all tax-related security issues to us.

You can also report:

Help to re-establish your tax identity

If you think someone has stolen or misused your identity, contact our Client Identity Support Centre on 1800 467 033 (between 8.00 am and 6.00 pm AEST, Monday to Friday).

We will help you establish your tax identity. When you phone us, we'll discuss the identification documents you'll need to provide.

If you think your other personal information was compromised, we recommend you contact IDCAREExternal Link on 1800 595 160 (between 8.00 am and 5.00 pm AEST, Monday to Friday). IDCARE provides free advice and confidential support to victims of identity theft.

See also

If you hold taxpayer information

If you hold tax or superannuation data (including TFNs) for clients or employees and you are aware (or suspect) the security of this information has been breached, phone our Client Identity Support Centre on 1800 467 033 between 8.00 am and 6.00 pm AEST, Monday to Friday.

See also

How we respond to identity theft

The way we respond to identity theft depends on the situation:

Someone has your TFN

If someone has your TFN, you need to tell us and we will check for any unusual or suspicious activity on your account.

If someone uses your TFN, we'll confirm and then correct the details in your account.

This may take longer for more complex tax affairs.

We will then discuss any further action taken with you.

Monitoring your tax and super account

If your ATO account has been compromised, we can help protect your tax and super account by monitoring your records before automatic processing of any lodgments or claims.

If an activity looks suspicious, we may contact you to confirm the details before processing commences.

The security measures we apply will remain on your file until we determine that there is no further risk.

Secure your sign in using myID

If you suspect someone may try and access ATO online services using your details, you can take additional steps to secure access to your personal information.

Using a Strong myID is the most secure way to access ATO online services through myGov, because:

  • unlike multifactor authentication, to set up your Strong myID you need to verify your ID and complete a one-off face verification check in the app
  • it sets your online access strength - meaning you must always use your Strong myID to access ATO online services.

This helps assure us of your identity and makes it harder for fraudsters to impersonate you.

 

See also

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