Proving who you are to link the ATO to your myGov account – Easy Read

This document has been written by the Australian Tax Office (ATO).

When you see the words ‘we’, ‘our’ or ‘us’ it means the ATO.

This Easy Read document is a summary of another document.

You can find the other document on our website at ato.gov.au/InfoForLinkingToATO.

When you link the ATO to your myGov account, we ask questions to confirm your identity.

These questions are based on information the ATO already has about you.

You only need to answer some of these questions.

To get ready, you can prepare information that may have been reported to us.

This may include information from

• your employer
• your bank account
• your superannuation fund
• Centrelink
• us.  

This guide will help you prepare for the questions.

You can ask someone for help if you need to.

Your bank account details from an account

• where your income tax refund was paid in the last 2 years
• that has earned interest in the last 2 financial years. The financial year is from 1 July to 30 June.

Need help finding it?

You can find this information

• on your bank statement
• in your bank's mobile app or online banking.

Be aware that if you used a tax agent, your tax refund may have gone to their bank account.

You need details from an active superannuation account.

Superannuation is also called super.

An active account is one that is open and being used.

Need help finding it?

You can find this information

• on a super statement
• on your payslip or from your employer
• in your online super account
• in letters or emails from your super fund
• by phoning your super fund.

A summary of payments you received from Centrelink.

You need one from the last 2 financial years.

Need help finding it?

You can find this information

• on the annual statement that Centrelink provides you
• in your Centrelink online account through myGovExternal Link.

A statement with information about dividends sent to you.

Dividends are money you make from shares in a company or investment fund.

You need a dividend statement from the last 2 years.

Need help finding it?

You can find this information

• in letters or emails from the company or investment fund
• in your investment account
• by phoning the company or investment fund.

A notice of assessment is sent to you after we check your tax return.

It shows information about your

• taxable income
• tax refund or tax debt amount.

You need one issued within the last 5 years.

Need help finding it?

You can find this information

• in a letter from us
• from your tax agent, if you use one.

PAYG is short for Pay As You Go.

A PAYG payment summary shows all the money an employer paid you.

It can also be called a PAYG summary.

You need a summary from the last 2 financial years.

This is different from an income statement. Most people receive an income statement.

Need help finding it?

You can find this information

• from your employer
• by phoning us on 13 28 61. 

This question is only for people who applied for their tax file number (TFN) as a permanent migrant or temporary visitor.

See ato.gov.au/tfnautoreg for more information.

We ask about the travel document you used when you applied for your TFN.

Need help finding it?

You can find this information

• on the document you used from your most recent application within the last 4 years
• in old application records.

A statement from a managed fund about your investment.

The statement must be from the current or previous financial year.

Need help finding it?

You can find this information

• from letters or emails from the managed fund
• in your investment account
• by phoning your fund provider.

A receipt reference number is provided when you apply for a tax file number (TFN).

You would have received a TFN application lodgment receipt if you applied online or through Australia Post.

Generally, you'll need to have applied for your TFN within the last 90 days.

Need help finding it?

You can find this information

• in an email or letter we sent you when you applied for a TFN
• from whoever helped you apply.

A tax document you lodged with us.

This can be

• an income tax return
• a business activity statement (BAS)

It must be from the last 2 years.

Need help finding it?

You can find this information

• in your records
• from your tax agent, if you use one
• in your business software, if you use it.

Details of an active payment plan you set up with us.

It must have been created in the last 2 years.

Need help finding it?

You can find this information

• in letters or messages from us
• by phoning us on 13 28 61.

A payslip from your employer.

We will ask questions about your most recent payslip.

Need help finding it?

You can find this information

• in emails or paper payslips
• from your employer.

You can skip a question if you are not sure of the answer.

If you skip all questions, it will count as a failed attempt. It’s best to have your information ready and double-check your details before you start.

If you get an error code or error message, you can find help at ato.gov.au/OnlineHelp.

If you still need help you can

• phone us on 13 28 61
• ask a trusted person to help you.

Do not share your myGov sign-in detailsExternal Link, like your passwords, PINs or codes.

These are private and keep your information safe.

Find out how to protect your myGov accountExternal Link.

If you cannot confirm your identity online, we will tell you what to do next.