Australian Taxation Office Client to Agent Linking commenced From 13 November 2023 - 13th November 2023

Australian Taxation Office

Client to Agent Linking commenced

From 13 November 2023

The ATO are further strengthening the security of online services to help protect against fraud and identity related theft.

From 13 November 2023, all types of entities with an ABN (excluding sole traders) will need to nominate a Tax Agent, a BAS Agent or a Payroll Service Provider before they can act for you ** and on your behalf.

Please note existing clients are not affected by this system unless you ask us to take on an additional role. Keep reading for more info.

You will need to use is the new agent nomination feature in Online services for business when you:

- Engage a new Tax Agent, BAS Agent or Payroll Service Provider to act on your behalf, or

- Provide extra authorisation for you as your existing authorised agent. For example, say you lodge Business Activity Statements (BAS's) yourself. You then request your Tax Agent to start lodging these on your behalf. This means you will need to use the new Client to Agent Linking service before your Tax Agent can represent you.

We have prepared a helpful and comprehensive Step by Step Guide to assist you to link you to us! Follow the link here - ATO Client-Agent Linking Steps. 

The new process has been roundly criticised by the Accounting, Tax and Bookkeeping industries as being too complex and a gross overreaction to fraud and identity theft. We hope the ATO will listen to us and design a simpler process, but until then, it is what we all need to work with.

As always, if you have any questions, please contact us at Waratah 4929 5533 or Maitland 4933 6100.

** You means you and any entity you have authority to act on behalf of.