New ATO App Feature: Verify ATO Phone Calls and Avoid Scams
With scam activity on the rise, it’s becoming harder to tell whether a phone call claiming to be from the Australian Taxation Office
(ATO) is genuine. To help protect taxpayers, the ATO has introduced an important call‑verification feature in the ATO app.
How the call verification feature worksIf the ATO phones you, you can now verify the call in real time using the ATO app. While you’re on the phone, simply open the app on your registered device to check for a security message confirming the call is genuinely from the ATO.If you can’t verify the call, you should hang up and not continue the conversation. This feature helps you:
Why this mattersScammers frequently impersonate the ATO to pressure people into providing personal details or making urgent payments. The ATO app’s Verify call function adds an extra layer of protection, allowing you to independently confirm genuine ATO contact before engaging further.What you need to use this featureTo verify ATO phone calls, you’ll need to:
Learn moreThe ATO has published a short, plain‑English fact sheet that explains how the app’s security features — including call verification — help protect your tax and super information:ATO app helps keep you secure – fact sheet Does this affect your tax agent?No. Using the ATO app and its security features does not restrict our access to your tax information. We can continue to act on your behalf as normal. |
