Create a myGov account and link it to the ATO

Create a myGov account

A myGov account lets you link to and access a range of government services online in one place.

To create an account, you can use either your:

• myGovID set up to a Standard or Strong identity strength.
• email address – make sure that only you have access to it – don't use a shared email.

When creating your account, if you don't provide an Australian mobile number, you'll need to update your myGov sign in option. You can't use Answer a secret question as your sign in option when linking to or accessing our online services.

If you already have a myGov account but you can't sign in, go to When you can't sign in to your myGov account.

Link your myGov account to the ATO

Before you start trying to link:

• get the information you need to link myGov to the ATO
• check you're not using Answer a secret question as your myGov sign in option.

Link your myGov account to us in 4 steps:

1. Sign in to your myGov account.
2. Follow the prompts to link to the Australian Taxation Office.
3. Enter or confirm your personal details.
4. Answer 2 questions about your tax record.

If you don't have the required information to link, you'll need to phone us to get a unique linking code. We will need to ask you questions to establish your identity. This is to protect the privacy of your account.

For detailed steps on how to link your myGov account to the ATO, watch our video:

myGov sign in options

To link your myGov account to us you must sign in using either:

• myGovID – set up to a Standard or Strong identity strength.
• Get a code by SMS using an Australian mobile number.
• myGov Code Generator appExternal Link to generate a one time code.

Use your myGovID or the myGov Code Generator app if you:

• don’t have an Australian mobile number
• are overseas
• have poor mobile reception.

Using myGovID to sign in

When you use your myGovID to sign in to myGov and link or access ATO online services, your highest identity strength becomes your online access strength. You'll use this for all future access to ATO online services.

For example, if you have a myGovID with a Strong identity strength and use it to sign in, your minimum online access strength will be Strong. Whenever you sign in to myGov to access ATO online services, you’ll need to use your Strong myGovID.

Your online access strength only applies to ATO online services. It doesn't apply to your myGov account or other linked myGov services.

Check or change your myGov sign in option

You can check and update how you sign in to myGov in your myGov account settings under Sign in options.

When changing your sign in option, you can also add another sign in option as a backup.

If you change your sign in option to:

• Answer a secret question as the only option, your myGov account will be unlinked from the ATO as this is a less secure sign in option
• a method which doesn't meet your minimum online access strength, you will be unable to access ATO online services.

Troubleshooting linking issues

If you have trouble linking to us, check:

• your systems meet the minimum system requirements
• help and support for our online services (including error codes)
• if the system is affected by our system maintenance.