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The ATO app is an easy and secure way to access and manage your tax and super on the go. The ATO app is free to use and can be downloaded from Google Play or the App Store.
As an individual or sole trader, you can quickly access your personal tax and super information in one place. The ATO app has many helpful features and tools.
Helping you stay safe online
We have added new features to the ATO app to help individuals and sole traders keep your personal information secure. To access all the latest security benefits and new features you will need to register your device within the ATO app. You will be automatically prompted to complete this simple one-time process.
Real time messages
The ATO app will now alert you in real time when changes are made to your ATO account, such as when an income tax lodgment is made or your bank account details are updated. You can then act if something doesn’t look right.
Account lock
If you are concerned about unauthorised access to your ATO account, you can keep it safe by locking it using the ATO app. Then nobody but your authorised registered tax practitioner can access your details, make changes or lodge returns.
Once you lock your ATO account:
- you will be logged out of the ATO app
- a confirmation will be emailed to you with the contact number you need to unlock your ATO account or to discuss any concerns
- you will not be able to log back in to ATO app or ATO online services
- no refunds will issue.
Case study: real time protection
Andrew and his tax agent Trevor are discussing lodging this year’s tax return. Andrew can’t wait for his tax refund, and Trevor suggests that he downloads the ATO app to see the progress of his return once it’s lodged. Trevor also provides Andrew with the practice’s bank account details that they agree will be used.
A few days later Andrew sees a notification – his bank details have been updated. He checks this against the details Trevor shared and they don’t match. Andrew acts quickly, using the account lock feature within the ATO app. This stops the refund from going out until Andrew can confirm who made the changes.
Andrew lets Trevor know about the locked account and calls the ATO about securing his account and allowing it to be unlocked safely.
Find your details at your fingertips
Quickly view your:
- personal details and tax file number (TFN)
- tax practitioner's details
- employment and superannuation details, including your income, tax withheld and super contributions
- tax accounts, including Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) and activity statement accounts.
Keep track of important dates
Never miss your lodgments and payments. Use the ATO app to view when they are due and action them as needed.
Get ready for tax time
Follow your tax return from start to finish. Using the ATO app, you can easily:
- check the status of pre-fill information we receive from third parties and work out if you're ready to lodge with your tax practitioner
- know in real time that your practitioner has lodged your tax return
- check the progress of your tax return once lodged
- view the outcome of your return once lodged
- download and view your notice of assessment.
Make things easy for you and your agent with myDeductions
The myDeductions tool in the ATO app can help organise your tax records and conveniently keep them in one place.
As an individual (employee) you can record your expenses and work-related trips (car expenses).
Easily capture information like photos of your receipts and invoices throughout the year. Then once you finalise your records, you can:
- email your data either to yourself or your tax practitioner
- upload your data to pre-fill your tax return, ready for you and your tax practitioner.
Records you add are stored locally on your device and are only sent to us if you upload your completed records to your tax return.
Case study: tax time made easy
Last tax time Andrew was a bit disorganised. He wasn’t ready with all the records needed and it took weeks to pull them together and for his agent to lodge his tax return.
This year Andrew was kinder to his future self and recorded everything within the myDeductions tool on the ATO app. Each receipt and invoice was quickly and conveniently recorded and Andrew uploaded his data on 1 July, pre-filling his tax return.
Andrew’s agent Trevor can see this information in real time and is able to start the lodgment process without delay. After signing off on the tax return that he and Trevor discussed, Andrew receives an ATO app message letting him know Trevor has lodged his tax return. Andrew can then track the progress of his return through the ATO app, so he knows when his refund is available.
This is a general summary only. For more information or support using the ATO app, visit ato.gov.au/app.