Sign in issues
You may not be able to sign in to your myGov account because you:
- changed your mobile phone number
- travelled overseas and no longer have access to your Australian mobile number
- deleted the myGov Code Generator app
- can't answer your secret question
- forgot your password.
If you forget your password, reset it by selecting Forgot password on the myGov sign-in page.
When you can't sign in to your myGov account, you can either:
- recover your account using myID
- sign in using a passkey, if you've created one
- create a new myGov account and relink to the ATO
Recover your account using myID
If you used code sent by SMS, Answer a secret question or myGov Code Generator app as your sign-in method, you can use myID to recover your account.
To recover your myGov account, download the myID app and set it up to a Strong identity strengthExternal Link.
Your name, date of birth and email address for your myGov account must match the details you use to set up your myID. If they’re different, you can update your detailsExternal Link within the myID app before using it to recover your myGov account.
After you set up your myID, you can recover your account:
- Go to the Sign in with myGovExternal Link page.
- Enter your username and password and select Sign in.
- Select I didn’t get my code, I can't access my app or I can't answer my question.
- Select Continue with Digital ID.
- Sign in with your myID and follow the prompts.
Once you’ve recovered your account, if you access ATO online services with your Strong myID you’ll set your online access strength. This means you must always access ATO online services using your Strong myID. This is because it's the most secure access method.
Create a new myGov account and relink to the ATO
If you can't recover your account using myID. You need to create a new myGov account and relink to the ATO.
You can choose to use a different email address when creating your new account. If you want to use the same email address, the myGov help desk must release it. To contact the myGov help desk:
- in Australia, phone 13 23 07 and select option 1
- outside Australia, phone +61 1300 169 468.
Avoid losing access in future
Where you can, we recommend using myID for secure and flexible access to ATO online services.
If you're unable or choose not to use myID, we recommend enabling a back-up sign-in option:
- In myGov, go to My account.
- Select Account settings.
- Select Sign in settings and follow the prompts.