Other payment options

There are several ways you can make a payment to the ATO.

On this page

• Your payment options
• Electronic transfer
• Direct debit
• Government EasyPay
• In person at Australia Post
• Mail
• International payments
• Payment processing

Your payment options

We offer different ways to pay so you can find a method that suits you. The quickest way to pay is with BPAY or through our online services.

Whichever payment method you use, you will need to use the correct unique payment reference number (PRN) in the reference field for each payment. This guarantees your money goes to the right account without delay. Do not include anything else in this field.

Electronic transfer

Check your financial institution's processing times to make sure your payment reaches us on time.

Your financial institution may offer real-time payment services using Osko or PayID.

We are working towards improving available payment options, but for now:

• we don't have PayID – use the above ATO bank account details
• payments can take up to 4 business days to be received by us and to appear on your ATO account when a valid PRN has been provided
• if you do not use a valid PRN, it may take longer for your payment to appear on your ATO account. We may need to contact you to confirm which account the payment is for.

Direct debit

To have your payment automatically deducted from your Australian cheque or savings account, credit or debit card you can:

• use our online services (individuals and sole traders)
• use Online services for business
• phone 13 11 42 between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday.

Only the card holder can set up a direct debit using a credit or debit card.

Direct debit from a financial institution account

For direct debit from a financial institution account:

• your registered tax or BAS agent can set up the direct debit for you using Online services for agents or by phoning us.
• a direct debit request form may be completed and returned to us. Allow at least seven working days for your direct debit to be activated to ensure your payment reaches us by the due date. This form cannot be used to request a direct debit from a credit or debit card.

Government EasyPay

Pay by phone

Phone the Government EasyPay service on 1300 898 089.

In person at Australia Post

You can pay at the post office by cash, EFTPOS (subject to your daily limits) or cheque. You must provide an ATO barcode with your payment.

We are moving away from cheques and encourage you to pay electronically.

If you choose to use cheques and money orders, make sure they are:

• in Australian dollars
• payable to 'Deputy Commissioner of Taxation'
• marked 'Not Negotiable'
• not post-dated.

You cannot pay at an ATO site or shopfront.

Foreign investment application fees cannot be paid at Australia Post.

GST at settlement can also be paid using e-conveyancing.

Mail

We are moving away from cheques and encourage you to pay electronically. More information about the Australian Government's plans to move away from cheques is available on the Department of the Treasury websiteExternal Link.

If you choose to pay through the mail:

• you must include a payment slip, which can be found on selected ATO notices
• your bank or the post office may charge you a fee to use a cheque or money order
• you will need to take into account postal service delivery timesExternal Link. Once we receive your payment, it may take a further 4 business days to be allocated to your ATO account.

You can mail your payment slip and a cheque or money order to:

Australian Taxation Office
Locked Bag 1936
ALBURY  NSW  1936

Make sure cheques and money orders are:

• in Australian dollars
• payable to 'Deputy Commissioner of Taxation'
• marked 'Not Negotiable'
• not post-dated.

If you don’t have a payment slip you must include the following details with your payment to avoid unnecessary delays to payments being credited to your account:

• full name
• address and phone number
• account identifier – for example, tax file number (TFN) or Australian business number (ABN)
• payment type – for example, activity statement payment or income tax payment.

Don't send cash through the mail. Make sure you allow sufficient time for your payment to reach us by checking the Australia Post delivery standardsExternal Link.

Foreign investment application fees cannot be paid by cheque or mail order.

International payments

Transfer from an overseas bank account

Contact your overseas financial institution for advice on how to make your payment through SWIFT. The payment must be sent in Australian dollars.

Payments can take up to 4 business days to be received by us, and to appear on your ATO account.

To ensure your payment goes into the right account you must provide an accurate PRN. Do not include anything else in this field. Any other reference or text in this field will cause processing delays when we receive your payment.

Bank handling and exchange fees are generally automatically deducted from your payment, at both the overseas bank and their companion bank in Australia, before being forwarded to us. Allow for these fees when arranging your payment.

International money remitters

If you choose to use an international money remitter (a company that can help you to transfer money internationally):

• you must send the payment in Australian dollars
• ensure you provide an accurate PRN so the payment goes to the right account – do not include anything else in this field.

Foreign exchange conversion fees may vary between international money remitters. These will be included in the converted foreign currency amount to be paid.

If the payment cannot be completed for any reason, the amount will be returned to you. If an overpayment is made to the money remitter, the excess amount will be returned to you.

Ensure you allow up to four business days for payments to reach us and appear on your account. If your payment is late, you are responsible for any fees or penalty interest that may be applied.

You can choose to use any international money remitter. However, we have an agreement with:

• OFXExternal Link
• XeExternal Link.

These providers have agreed to ensure:

• the PRN you enter is validated
• the A$ value you have instructed will be sent to us without deduction of cross-border or related fees.

This means when using these providers your payment can be identified easily and we receive the full A$ value.

Payment processing

Payments can take up to 4 business days from the day you make the payment, to be received by us and to appear on your ATO account.

If you mail a cheque or money order to us, you will need to take into account postal service delivery timesExternal Link.