ATO offers help to businesses transitioning to myGovID

The Tax Office has said it will commence visits across the country from 10 February, with myGovID and Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM) set to replace AUSkey as the new secure login service from the end of March.

“We anticipate that visits will take between 45-60 minutes and will occur at the premises of tax professionals,” a spokesperson for the ATO said.

“Tax professionals can request a visit from us via our online booking system. A link will be sent via email.”

Advising that its employees will not be targeting businesses through these visits, the ATO assured that it is covering off on the myGovID transition as part of its regular series of seminars for businesses.

The Tax Office will also be launching an outbound telephone campaign that will target tax professionals it has identified may need assistance to make the transition.

“Businesses who use the Business Portal or the Small Business Superannuation Clearing House also need to transition from AUSkey to myGovID, and we’re working hard to ensure all businesses know what they need to do and how to do it,” the ATO cautioned.

“Late last year we sent an email to all businesses with an active AUSkey to let them know how to transition and we’ll continue to send emails reminding businesses who have not yet made the change throughout February.”

Last month, the Tax Office advised that myGovID is now available as an app through the Apple and Google Play stores, and can be used with most Apple devices using iOS 10 or above and most Android devices using Nougat 7.0 or above.

According to the ATO, setting up myGovID on a compatible smart device should take "only a few minutes", but agents are being warned they will need to do it before their practice can move over to the new process.

"To prove your identity on myGovID you'll need to enter your full name, date of birth and email address. The email address should belong to you – don't use a shared email address," it said.

"You'll also need any two of these four Australian identity documents: passport, driver's licence, birth certificate or Medicare card."