New ATO process to protect from fraud and identity theft

Councils are reminded that the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has now included all government entities in their new agent nomination process.

The process is a new requirement to help ensure only chosen authorised tax agents, BAS agents or payroll service providers can access your government entity’s accounts, and act on your behalf for tax and super matters.

The aim of the change is to further strengthen the security of the ATO’s online services and help protect councils from fraud and identity-related theft.

Your organisation doesn’t need to do anything if:

• it does not use an agent,
• it is already represented by an agent and does not make changes to the authorisations given to them.

If your council does engage a new agent or make changes with an existing agent, you can find information about the Agent nomination process, or ask your agent.