ATO Scams Are Surging Before the 31 October Deadline: How to Protect Yourself

As the 31 October tax deadline approaches, so does something far less welcome: a wave of scams impersonating the ATO and myGov. Scammers know that millions of Australians are expecting to hear from the tax office right now, which makes a fake text, email or call far more believable than at any other time of year. According to Scamwatch and the ATO, these impersonation scams tend to ramp up in the lead-up to the October deadline.

At FinTax Partners in Greenslopes, we want our clients to lodge with confidence, not anxiety. Here is how to spot a tax scam, what the ATO will genuinely never do, and what to do if you are caught out

Why Tax Time Is Scam Season

When you are already logging into myGov, checking on your refund or expecting a message about your return, a fake one slips in more easily. Scammers exploit that expectation with urgency and fear, a surprise tax debt, a refund on hold, or a warning that your account needs verifying. The closer we get to 31 October, the more of these messages circulate.

What the ATO Will Never Do

This is the single most useful thing to remember. The ATO and myGov will never:

• Send you an SMS or email with a link to log in to their online services
• Ask for your Tax File Number, myGov login or bank details by email, text or social media
• Demand immediate payment or threaten you with arrest
• Ask you to pay a tax debt with gift cards or cryptocurrency
• Use DocuSign to process a tax refund

If a message does any of these things, it is a scam. Genuine ATO communication comes through your myGov account via official ATO online services, not through a link in a text.

Common Scams Circulating Right Now

Based on recent ATO scam alerts, watch out for:

• Fake tax debt: an urgent message claiming you owe money and must pay immediately to avoid legal action.
• Fake refund: a message saying your refund has failed and you need to “update” your bank details through a link.
• Fake document (DocuSign): an email asking you to review a document such as a “Declaration and Final Release”, leading to a fake myGov sign-in page.
• Cryptocurrency declaration: an email demanding you declare crypto holdings, designed to scare you into responding.
• Fake appointment: an email confirming an ATO phone appointment you never booked, with a link to “confirm”.

How to Check If a Message Is Genuine

• Do not click links in unexpected messages. Instead, go directly to ato.gov.au or the myGov app yourself and log in there.
• Check the sender. Genuine government emails end in .gov.au, though sender names can be faked, so this alone is not proof.
• Be wary of urgency. Pressure to act immediately is a classic scam tactic.
• Watch for the “Unverified” label. Under the new SMS Sender ID rules, texts from unregistered senders may now be flagged as “Unverified”, a helpful extra warning sign.
• When in doubt, ask us. If you are a client, you can forward anything suspicious to us before you act on it.

What to Do If You Have Been Scammed

If you clicked a link or shared details, act quickly:

• Change your myGov password immediately through the genuine website or app, and update your email password too.
• Report ATO impersonation by forwarding the message to ReportScams@ato.gov.au, then delete it. Report other scams to Scamwatch.
• Call the ATO on 1800 008 540 to secure your tax account.
• Contact your bank if you shared banking details.

How FinTax Partners Helps

As your registered tax agent, we deal with the ATO on your behalf, which means you have a trusted point of contact whenever something does not look right. If you receive a message claiming to be from the ATO and you are not sure, you can check with us before you respond. For help with your tax return or your business tax and BAS, we are here all year, not just at deadline time.

Frequently Asked Questions