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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 26 July 2021

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 8.00am and 6.00pm AEST, Monday to Friday.

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

Phone us on 13 28 61, between 8.00am and 6.00pm 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 8.00am and 6.00pm 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 8.00am and 6.00pm 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 8.00am and 5.00pm 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 8.00am and 6.00pm 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 TFN 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.

See also

Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra 

If you have experienced a data breach that has compromised your tax identity, we have advice to help protect you.

If your business experiences a data breach, there are steps you can take to limit damage to your business.

If a data breach occurs, we may put safeguards in place to protect information that belongs to you and your clients.

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