Australia Taxation Office
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) updated the group on current scam trends, highlighting an increase in phishing emails leveraging tax time themes, including:
- tax refunds
- notices of assessment
- myGov messages
- fake ATO appointment notifications.
Members were reminded that scammers continue to exploit trusted government brands and we encourage individuals to access services through official channels, independently verify unexpected communications, and report suspected scam activity promptly.
Client-to-agent linking
Client-to-agent linking for individuals and sole traders is being introduced in 2027 as a key fraud prevention measure to provide taxpayers with greater visibility and control over who can access their tax information. Further information on the initiative will be published on ato.gov.au in late September 2026.