How to Use the ATO and Centrelink Online Safely
The ATO and Centrelink both let you sort things online now, from checking your tax to managing a payment. It saves time on the phone and queuing in person. The catch is that scammers love to imitate these departments, so a little care keeps you safe.
The good news is that the rules for staying safe are simple, and once you know them, using these services is straightforward. Here’s how to log in the right way and spot anything that isn’t genuine. If you are helping an older parent get online, see our wider guide to helping a parent go online.
Quick answer
Reach both the ATO and Centrelink through your myGov account at the official site my.gov.au. Always type the address yourself or use a saved bookmark, never a link in a text or email. Neither the ATO nor Centrelink will ever ask for your password or full bank details by text or email. If a message does, it’s a scam. Log in directly to check anything they claim.
Getting into your accounts
The ATO through myGov
The ATO’s online services are reached through myGov. You sign in at my.gov.au, then open the linked Australian Taxation Office service. From there you can check your tax, see if you’re due a refund, lodge your return, update your details and message the ATO securely. There is also a free ATO app you can add to a phone or tablet. You set up your myGov sign-in once, and it’s worth writing your details down somewhere safe.
Centrelink through myGov
Centrelink, part of Services Australia, is also reached through myGov. Sign in at my.gov.au and open your linked Centrelink online account. There you can check payments, report income, update your details and handle many things without phoning. The free Express Plus Centrelink app does the same on a phone. Again, you sign in with your own myGov login that you set up once.
The safety rules that matter
Scammers send fake texts and emails pretending to be the ATO or Centrelink, often promising a refund or threatening a fine, with a link to a fake login page. The page looks real and captures your details. You can sidestep all of it by following a few habits.
Five habits that keep you safe
- Never tap a link in a text or email to log in. Type my.gov.au yourself, or open the official myGov app.
- Remember neither department asks for your password or full bank details by message.
- A refund or fine that arrives by text, urging you to act fast, is a classic scam. Slow down.
- If unsure, log in directly to your account, or phone the department on the number from their official site.
- Use a different password for myGov than for your email, and turn on extra login security if offered.
If something arrives that you’re not sure about, there’s no harm in checking with family or with the department directly. Our scam safety guides cover the common tricks in more detail, and the best apps for seniors guide can help if you’d rather use the official apps than a browser.
Before you finish
Download the free Family Tech Safety Checklist to help check phone safety, passwords, scam messages, emergency contacts and medical alarm details.
FAQ: using the ATO and Centrelink online
What is myGov?
It’s the secure Australian government login at my.gov.au. You link services like the ATO and Centrelink to it, then reach them all from one place.
How do I reach the ATO online?
Sign in to myGov and open the linked Australian Taxation Office service. You can check tax, refunds and your details there, or use the free ATO app.
How do I reach Centrelink online?
Sign in to myGov and open your Centrelink online account, or use the Express Plus Centrelink app on your phone.
Will the ATO or Centrelink text me a link to log in?
No. Treat any message with a login link as a scam. Always type my.gov.au yourself instead.
I got a text about a tax refund. Is it real?
Almost certainly not. The ATO doesn’t ask you to claim refunds by tapping a text link. Sign in to myGov directly to check.
What should I do if I clicked a fake link?
Don’t enter any more details. Change your myGov password from the real site, and if you shared bank details, contact your bank straight away.
