Increase your online security with myID

Why use myID?

The Australian Government’s myID app is the most secure way to prove who you are when accessing ATO online services through myGov or the ATO app.

Using your myID to link to or sign in to ATO online services:

• improves account security – unlike multifactor authentication, myID requires you to verify your ID in the app making it harder for fraudsters to impersonate you
• sets your online access strength - a stronger level of protection on your account. To maintain this protection, you need to continue to sign in to ATO online services using your myID (with the same or higher ID strength)
• gives you a flexible sign in option – your myID isn't locked to a specific mobile number or device, so you can use it if you get a new phone number, don't have mobile phone coverage or are overseas.

How to secure your ATO sign in with myID

Follow these 3 steps to secure your sign in:

1. Set up your myID

Set up your myIDExternal Link to a Strong or Standard ID strength. If you can, we recommend setting up to Strong ID strength. Strong ID strength provides better protection as it requires you to verify both your ID documents and photo in the app.

If you already have a myID, go to Step 2.

2. Sign in to myGov

Go to myGovExternal Link, select Sign in with Digital ID and follow the prompts to sign in and connect your myID.

3. Access ATO online services

Select Australian Taxation Office from your linked services. Your online access strength is now set based on the ID strength of your myID, either Strong or Standard.

By choosing to use Digital ID, you've helped make your account more secure and better protected. To maintain this protection, continue using your myID with the same (or higher) ID strength when accessing our online services in future.

For detailed steps on how to secure your sign in to ATO online services, watch our video:

Understanding your online access strength

Once you’ve accessed ATO online services using your myID, you've set your 'online access strength'. This helps secure your personal information from fraudsters.

There are 3 online access strengths:

• Strong – you signed in to ATO online services using a myID with Strong ID strength.
• Standard – you signed in to ATO online services using a myID with Standard ID strength.
• Not set – you used an alternative sign-in method to access ATO online services, for example a code sent by SMS, passkey or the myGov code generator app.

You can view your online access strength under Personal details in ATO online services or My details in the ATO app. Your online access strength doesn't apply to your myGov account or other linked services.

By choosing to use Digital ID, you've helped make your account more secure and better protected. To maintain your online access strength protection, you need to use your myID with the same (or higher) ID strength each time you sign in to ATO online services.

If you disconnect your myID from your myGov account or unlink from the ATO, your online access strength is not affected. If you later attempt to relink or access ATO online services, you need to sign in using your myID with the same or higher ID strength.

Using a Digital ID is voluntary. If you'd like to change the way you sign in to ATO online services, contact us on our Individuals enquiries line.

Compromised accounts

If your identity has been compromised, we may apply additional safeguards to protect your ATO record and prevent unauthorised access to ATO online services account.

By signing in using a Strong myIDExternal Link, you can unlock your access to ATO online services without needing to phone us each time. To set up your Strong myID, you need to verify your ID and photo in the app, making it much harder for fraudster to impersonate you or access your account.

To maintain ongoing access, you need to use your Strong myID each time you sign in.

You can view our factsheet at Get secure and ongoing access online with myID.

Need help?

Check out our Set your online access strength with myID fact sheets. These walk you through the set-up process and explain important information.

Support is also available:

• if you're having trouble verifying your IDExternal Link in the myID app
• if you need to set up your myID againExternal Link (for example, on a new phone)
• to help you with issues you experience when accessing or linking to ATO online services.