Beware of tax time scams

With tax time fast approaching, now is the time we start seeing an increase in the number of scammers targeting people for their personal information.

Each year, tax scammers change how they contact victims and the ways they try to obtain money and personal details.

In 2021, more than 50,000 people reported Australian Tax Office (ATO) impersonation scams with victims losing a total of more than $800,000.

Scammers will claim to be from the ATO, registered tax agents or associated with trusted brands like myGov and use convincing language to trick taxpayers via phone calls, email and sms when they're preparing to lodge their tax returns or as they await their tax refunds.

The ATO recommends the following to protect yourself from scammers this tax time.

• You will be notified about your tax debt before it is due. Check if you have a legitimate debt owed by logging into your myGov account or by calling your tax agent.
• Be careful when clicking on links, downloading files or opening attachments. Only give your personal information to people you trust and don’t share it on social media.
• If a call, SMS or email leaves you wondering if it is genuine, don’t reply. Instead, you should phone the ATO’s dedicated scam line 1800 008 540 to check if it is legitimate.
• Check payment methods to know they are legitimate – Scammers may use threatening tactics to trick their victims into paying fake debts via unusual methods. For example, they might demand pre-paid gift cards or transfers to non-ATO bank accounts. Visit ato.gov.au/howtopay.

If you’re concerned that a phone call, SMS or email claiming to be from the ATO is not genuine, do not reply to it. Instead, phone the ATO’s dedicated scam line on 1800 008 540 or visit www.ato.gov.au/reportascam where you can report or verify a scam attempt.

If you’d like to find out more about some of the current scams, visit the ATO Scam Alert page or visit www.ato.gov.au/reportascam where you can report or verify a scam attempt.