Benefits of strengthening your sign in with myID
myID is the Australian Government's Digital ID app. Use your myID to prove who you are when signing in to, or accessing, a range of government online services.
Using your myID to access ATO online services:
- provides better 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' – this means you must always use your myID to access ATO online services through myGov, because it's the most secure access method
- gives you a flexible sign in option – your myID isn't locked to a specific mobile number or device, and can be set up again using only an internet connection if you get a new phone.
Once set up, you can use your myID to access more than 150 government online servicesExternal Link.
How to strengthen your sign in with myID
Before you start
Download the myID app from the App Store or Google Play.
Step 1: Set up your myID to the highest identity strength you can achieve
Once you've entered your details, you need to increase your identity strength.
To access ATO online services, you need either a Strong or Standard identity strength. The higher your identity strength, the more protected you are.
Strong identity strength
For Strong identity strength, you need to:
- verify your Australian passport (current or no more than 3 years expired)
- complete a face verification check – like a selfie that's compared to the photo on your passport
- verify one of the following Australian documents
- citizenship certificate
- drivers licence or learners permit
- Medicare card.
Standard identity strength
For Standard identity strength, you need to verify any 2 of the following Australian documents:
- drivers licence or learners permit
- birth certificate
- visa (using your foreign passport)
- ImmiCard
- citizenship certificate
- passport (current or no more than 3 years expired)
- Medicare card.
For additional support, see verifying your IDExternal Link and setting up your myID againExternal Link (for example, if you got a new phone).
Step 2: Sign in to myGov using your myID
Go to myGovExternal Link, select Sign in with Digital ID and follow the prompts to sign in and connect your myID.
Step 3: Access ATO online services
Select Australian Taxation Office from your linked services – you've now secured your sign in and will need to use myID for all future access to ATO online services.
Using myID for all future access
By signing in using your myID, you have automatically helped secure your account by setting your 'online access strength'.
This means you must always access ATO online services using your myID with the same (or higher) identity strength. This applies if you sign in via myGov or the ATO app.
For example, if you sign in using your myID with a Strong identity strength, your online access strength will be Strong. Whenever you sign in to ATO online services, you'll need to use your Strong myID.
Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra