Tax agent phone services (Fast Key Code) guide

Use the Tax agent phone services (Fast Key Code) guide to find the right phone number for the topic you need to phone us about. The Fast Key Codes allow you to key ahead to the option of your choice without listening to the entire menu.

Before you phone us, check online

Where transactions and information are available online, you need to use those channels first before you phone us. Use our Tax agent online services guide to get the most out of our online services.

If you phone about something that can be resolved via an online channel, our customer service representatives will direct you to that channel.

Before you phone us, check that you have your:

Registered Agent Number (RAN)
proof of identity (POI)

For information about POI, refer to Proof of identity for registered agents.

You can phone us on 13 72 86, 8:00am–8:00pm, Mon–Fri, excluding public holidays. At different times we operate an extended-hours service. To find out if an extended service is currently available, refer to the information on our phone us page.

Printing your Tax agent phone services (Fast Key Code) guide

You can:

print the guide directly from your web browser
select 'Print this page' using the print icon on the top right of your screen
download and print a Portable Document Format (PDF) version (250 KB).This link will download a file

Tax agent phone services (Fast Key Code) guide

Select the relevant topic. Where an online option is available, we have included links in the tables below:

Account information
Activity statements
Debt and payment
Lodgment
Practice administration
Registration
Tax law and advice
Letters-alternative phone services
General phone services

Account information
Account information	Available online?	13 72 86 Fast Key Code
For business clients:
account balance	Tax Agent PortalExternal Link ato.gov.au	1 2 5 1
explanation	ato.gov.au	1 2 5 1
notice of assessment	ato.gov.au	1 2 5 1
refund or credit transfer	Tax Agent PortalExternal Link	1 2 5 1
replacement cheques	Tax Agent PortalExternal Link ato.gov.au	1 2 5 1
For personal clients:
account balance	Tax Agent PortalExternal Link ato.gov.au	1 2 5 2
explanation	ato.gov.au	1 2 5 2
name changes	ato.gov.au	1 2 5 2
notice of assessment	Tax Agent PortalExternal Link ato.gov.au	1 2 5 2
refund or credit transfer	Tax Agent PortalExternal Link	1 2 5 2
replacement cheques	Tax Agent PortalExternal Link ato.gov.au	1 2 5 2
Bank details – update for activity statement roles	Tax Agent PortalExternal Link	1 1 3
Assistance with the failure to lodge penalty		1 2 2 2
General interest charge (GIC):
assistance with		1 2 2 2
Higher education loan program	Tax Agent PortalExternal Link ato.gov.au	1 2 1
Withholding variations, section 15–15, vary an individual pay as you go (PAYG) rate of withholding		1 2 3

Back to the topic list

Activity statements
Activity statements	13 72 86 Fast Key Code
Assistance with completing	1 4 1
Request new DIN	1 4 1
Respond to our request to contact activity statement exceptions	1 4 2

See also:

Back to the topic list

Debt and payment
Debt and payment	Available online?	13 72 86 Fast Key Code
GIC remission request	Tax Agent PortalExternal Link	1 2 2
Payment arrangements	Tax Agent PortalExternal Link ato.gov.au	1 2 2
Respond to demands or notices about tax		1 2 2

Back to the topic list

Lodgment
Lodgment	13 72 86 Fast Key Code
Information about lodgment of:
activity statements, business income tax returns, super and fringe benefits tax	1 3 1 1
personal income tax returns	1 3 1 2
Lodgment program:
lodgment program information and assistance	1 3 2
Private binding ruling (PBR):
Respond to lodgment notices from us	1 3 3

See also: Prepare and lodge

Back to the topic list

Practice administration
Practice administration	Available online?	13 72 86 Fast Key Code
Access Manager system assistance	ato.gov.au	3 3
Feedback and complaints about: Income tax Business tax Superannuation Other matters	Tax Agent PortalExternal Link ato.gov.au	3 2 1 1 3 2 1 2 3 2 1 3 3 2 1 4
The practitioner lodgment service (PLS) and the electronic lodgment service (ELS):
assistance with all ELS transactions including password reset and validation		3 1 1
assistance with all PLS transactions and Standard Business Reporting (SBR) enabled software		3 1 2
assistance with technical issues, connections, firewalls and virtual private network (VPN)		3 5
ATO online services for registered agents Assistance with the Tax Agent Portal, including access, technical difficulties, functions and navigation	ato.gov.auExternal Link	3 3
Other services:
general administrative issues		3 2 2
natural disaster assistance see General phone services
ELS Technical Help Desk See: General phone services

See also: Your practice

Back to the topic list

Registration

If your query relates to your tax agent registration, visit tpb.gov.auExternal Link

Registration	Available online?	13 72 86 Fast Key Code
Duplicated TFN or ABN		1 1 1
Grouping and branching, joint venture registrations, consolidations and government controlled registrations		1 1 2
New or changes to registration details or other general registration enquiries		1 1 3
Register for:
GST and PAYG withholding	ABRExternal Link Tax Agent PortalExternal Link	1 1 3
fuel tax credits	ABRExternal Link	1 1 4
luxury car tax and wine equalisation tax		1 1 3
Update client details:
legal name – individual or sole trader	ato.gov.au	1 2 5 2
Cancel:
GST, PAYG withholding, LCT, WET	Tax Agent PortalExternal Link	1 1 3
fuel tax credits	Tax Agent PortalExternal Link	1 1 4
ABN	ABRExternal Link	1 1 3
TFN		1 1 3

Back to the topic list

Tax law and advice

The ato.gov.au website has significant online resources to help you with your query. Links relevant to each topic are available below.

Unless indicated in another topic, the listed Fast Key Codes should only be used for enquiries about the correct interpretation of tax and superannuation law.

Some of the topics listed are complex and depending on the specifics of your question, we may not be able to provide you with an answer immediately.

Tax law and advice	13 72 86 Fast Key Code
Capital gains tax – business	2 1 2 1
Capital gains tax – personal	2 1 2 2
Consolidation	2 1 3
Private company benefits – Division 7A dividends	2 1 3
Employee share schemes	2 1 2 1
Excise and fuel schemes (excluding fuel tax credits)	1 1 5
Fringe benefits tax (FBT)	2 4
Fuel tax credits	1 1 4
GST	2 3
Higher education loan program (HELP)	1 2 1
Imputation	2 1 3
Income tax – business	2 1 3
Income tax – personal or pre-filling	2 1 4
International tax issues	2 1 3
Losses	2 1 3
New legislation – business	2 5
New legislation – personal	2 1 4
Non-commercial losses	2 1 3
Non-profit organisations	2 4
PAYG instalments	2 1 1
PAYG withholding	2 1 1
Research and development tax concession	2 1 3
Self-managed super funds (SMSF) – including eSAT	4 3
Small business entity concessions	2 1 3
Super simplification	4 1 1
Super surcharge	4 1 2
Super guarantee – including calculators	4 2
Super enquiries – other (not accounts)	4 4

Back to the topic list

Letters – alternative phone service

When we send letters to your clients, the phone numbers that we quote are those we provide for the general community.

To ensure your status as a tax agent is recognised by our phone system, you can use the list below to respond to letters from us that quote other phone numbers.

If a letter from us asks your client to phone:	Phone 13 72 86 and select Fast Key Code
13 10 20	4 4
13 11 42 (debt issues)	1 2 2
13 11 42 (lodgment issues)	1 3 3
13 28 66	1 2 5 1
13 28 61	1 2 5 2
1300 130 926	1 4 2
1300 657 162	1 1 5

Back to the topic list

General phone services

We provide as many options as possible through the registered agent phone line. We also have a range of other phone numbers for other topics.

Topic	Phone number
Standard Business Reporting (SBR) cloud-based enabled practice management software – Notify us of a hosted SBR software service.	1300 852 232
ELS Tech Help Desk	1300 139 373
Natural disaster assistance for registered agents	1800 700 724
AUSkeyExternal Link – general enquiries and technical support (including downloading and installation)	1300 287 539
EFT direct debit – direct refund help line Direct debit payments and income tax electronic refund advice	1800 802 308
Payment methods: refer to How to pay phone the payment hotline.	1800 815 886
Publications can be printed or ordered: online by phone (have the full title or NAT number ready).	1300 720 092
Report tax evasion: onlineExternal Link by phone.	1800 060 062
Report schemes: by email by phone (wait until message finishes and select Option 3). Also see Tax Planning.	1800 060 062
Wine equalisation tax	1300 137 290

Back to the topic list

Complex issue resolution

Our Complex issue resolution service is available to resolve complex administrative issues and tax technical interpretation queries, which you have been unable to resolve through our online channels or by phoning us.

Complex issue resolution

Last modified: 27 Oct 2016QC 47114