Dealing with the ATO - Digital Age

Article by Ryan Naughton

as featured in the Farm Weekly issue 21 November 2019

You have probably noticed that over the last couple of years the ATO has been on a crusade to go completely paperless. The lodgement of BAS’s and personal PAYG Instalments have been online for a while now, cloud software solutions, single touch payroll and paying super via a clearing house have all combined to try and ensure you have some form of online dealing with the ATO. 

The latest change clients will be facing, if they haven’t done so already, is the way they use the ATO’s business portal, which is currently transitioning to what is to be known as “online services”. The use of “online services” has a similar look and feel to the old portal so there is not too much you need to worry about with that, what is soon to change though is the way you access it.

So what do you need to know?

• By the end of November the old Portal will be closed and online services will be your primary form of access with the ATO.
• From April 2020 Auskey’s are out and MyGovID and RAM are in.
• Auskey’s were generally attached to a user’s actual computer which caused issues when upgrading your pc and limited your ability to access the ATO from a different location.
• MyGovID, which is different from your personal MyGov account, will allow you to prove who you are when using government online services.
• RAM (Relationship Authorisation Manager) will allow you to manage who can act on behalf of your business.
• You will need a smartphone that can access the MyGovID app and download it onto your phone.
• You will then need to prove who you are by completing the ID check which will require you to upload 2 of either your drivers licence, Medicare card or passport.
•  You will then need to link your business details (ABN) to your MyGovID using RAM and manage your business connections from here.
• The idea is that it will provide easier access to the ATO and allow you to use multiple devices to do it.

As always though when it comes to the digital age security is very important. With access to your MyGovID now living on your phone it is vital that you have the proper security measures on your phone such as Pin codes, thumbprints or facial ID to ensure someone can’t get into your phone should you misplace it.

Please contact your accountant to touch base regarding these changes to ensure you will be able to continue accessing the Business Portal come April. At Byfields we have a user’s guide that we would be happy to pass on to anyone requiring further information.

_{Disclaimer: This content provides general information only, current at the time of production. Any advice in it has been prepared without taking into account your personal circumstances. You should seek professional advice before acting on any material.}