Managing your payment plan

Change your payment from credit card

After 30 November 2026, we'll stop accepting credit cards as a payment method.

What you need to do

If you have a payment plan linked to a credit card, you must change to another payment method before your next scheduled instalment that's due after 30 November 2026. Credit card payments after 30 November 2026 will be unsuccessful and the status of your payment plan may move into arrears or default.

Cut-off dates apply to changing to another payment method.

How to change

You can use our online services to change:

• your credit card payment to a debit from your financial institution account
• your credit card to a debit card
• every instalment due after 30 November 2026 to a different payment method.

Other options

You can choose one of our payment options to:

• pay your balance in full
• make sure each instalment is paid by the due date.

If you pay your balance in full and your payment plan is paid off early, you'll need to cancel your plan to stop the remaining direct debit instalments.

Notice needed to change your payment plan

You can change how you pay and modify an instalment due date or amount in online services.

If you make any changes, you will need to do this at least:

• 1 business day before the instalment date, if the payment method is direct debit via debit card
• 3 business days before the instalment date, if the payment method is direct debit via your bank account.

Access your payment plan in online services

Individuals and sole traders can use ATO online services. From the menu:

• select Tax
• select Payments
• select Payment plans.

Businesses can use Online services for businessExternal Link. From the menu:

• select Accounts and payments
• select Payment plans.

Change how you pay

If you need to change how you pay your payment plan, there are several ways to do this.

Change to a different card

If you're paying your payment plan by direct debit from a card, you can change to a new card or update your existing card (for example, if your card has expired).

To add a new card

1. Select Update for the relevant plan.
2. Select I want to use a new card.
3. Complete card and contact details, select Next.
4. If required, you can modify instalments, select Next.
5. A summary of the plan will be displayed for your review, select Submit.

To update an existing card

1. Select Update for the relevant plan.
2. Check the card you want updated is selected .
3. Select Yes to update this card.
4. Complete card updates, select Next.
5. If required, you can modify instalments, select Next.
6. A summary of the plan will be displayed for your review, select Submit.

Change between a card and a financial institution account

To change between a card and a financial institution account (FIA) or a FIA to a card, you'll need to:

• cancel your existing payment plan
• set up a new payment plan using your preferred payment method.

If you can't do this using our online services, contact us.

Change an instalment to a different payment method

You can change one or more instalments from direct debit to paying with a different payment method (for example, BPAY®). This won't affect the rest of your payment plan provided you pay each instalment by the due date.

To change an instalment to a different payment method:

1. Select Update for the relevant plan.
2. If your instalment is paid by card, select the existing card under Cards and select No when asked if you want to update the card.
3. Complete the required card information, tick the declaration box and select Next.
4. Select Update next to the future instalment you want to change.
5. Select I want to pay this instalment with a different payment option.
6. If required, modify the instalment due date or amount and select Save.
7. Repeat these steps for each instalment you want to update.
8. Select Calculate to preview your changes, then select Next.
9. Review the updated plan, tick the declaration box and select Submit.

Change an instalment due date or amount

You can:

• change an instalment due date
• change an instalment amount
• cancel an instalment.

You can't make these changes online if:

• your current payment plan exceeds 24 months
• the changes would extend your payment plan beyond 24 months.

To modify or cancel your instalment due date or amount:

1. Select Update for the relevant plan.
2. Select the chevron (downwards arrow) to modify the instalment details as required. Select Cancel Instalment to remove an instalment (amounts can't be below $1).
3. Select Save to keep changes select or Cancel to discard them. You must select Save or Cancel or an error will occur.
4. Select Save again. This will initiate the Calculate button.
5. Select Calculate to preview how your changes affect the payment plan.
6. Review the preview to see your updated instalment details.
7. Select Submit to apply all changes to your payment plan.

Cancel your payment plan

If you need to cancel your payment plan:

1. Select Cancel for the relevant plan.
2. Select a reason for cancelling the plan.
3. Tick the acknowledgement and declaration boxes.
4. Select Submit to cancel to your payment plan.

However, if you cancel your plan and still have an overdue debt, we may take firmer action to collect it.

Check the status of your payment plan

Individuals and sole traders can view the status of their payment plan in ATO online servicesExternal Link. Log in, then from the menu select Tax, then Payment, then Payment plans.

Businesses can check their payment plan status in Online services for businessExternal Link. Log in, then from the menu select Accounts and payments.

For more detail about the status of each payment plan, select the help icon.

Active

If your payment plan has a status of active, it means that your instalments are on track and no further action is required.

Arrears

If you missed a scheduled instalment or haven’t paid another tax obligation by the due date, your payment plan may remain active but could move into an arrears status.

You may receive an arrears letter from us informing you that your accounts are in arrears. This gives you an opportunity to bring your payment plan back on track before your payment plan defaults. The letter will outline:

• the minimum amount you need to pay now
• any further actions you need to take to prevent your payment plan from defaulting.

If you're a myGov user, we'll send this letter to your myGov Inbox first. If you've set up your preference to send correspondence to your tax agent, we'll send the letter to them.

Default

A default occurs when your payment plan is no longer active because you haven't met its conditions. This could include:

• not acting on an arrears letter
• missing an agreed instalment by the due date
• not paying an additional tax obligation on time.

If your payment plan defaults, the whole overdue balance becomes immediately payable and we may take firmer action.

To prevent a default, it’s important to respond early to arrears letter and stay up to date with any future payments or obligations.

If your payment plan has defaulted, contact us to discuss what options might be available to you. This may include re-negotiating a payment plan.