Choosing a communication preference
We are committed to improving services for you and your registered tax or BAS agent through tailored and contemporary online services.
If you use a tax professional, communication preferences allows you to authorise your tax professional to choose where we send your digital ATO communications.
You can choose to have:
- all communications sent to you
- all communications sent to your registered agent
- some communications sent to you and other communications sent to your registered agent.
Once you know what you want to do, your agent can set your communication preferences.
Setting your own communication preferences
You are only able to check or view your communication preferences in ATO online.
If you want to change them, contact your registered agent. If you can’t contact them, you can use online services help to contact us.
Communications that we can send electronically
We send many different types of communications about your tax and superannuation obligations.
We can send communications electronically to you or your registered agent in the following 6 categories:
- income tax
- activity statement
- study and training support loans
- superannuation
- debt
- employer and business obligations.
If we can't send a communication electronically, we'll send it to the postal address on your record.
For a list of communications that can be sent electronically to your registered agent in ATO Online services for agents, see Communication types.
We will continue to expand the communications we can send electronically.
Setting your communication preferences
Your registered agent will ask if you would like to change how you currently receive your communications from us. You will need to give your registered agent written authorisation and a declaration to set or change your preferences.
You can then choose whether:
- your registered agent receives some or all categories of communications we send you
- you receive some or all categories of communications we send you, either
- directly to your myGov Inbox
- to your nominated postal address if you don't have a myGov account.
Your registered agent will let us know your preferences.
If you have more than one tax or BAS agent and you want some of your communications to go to each, you need to complete an authorisation for each registered agent.
For example, you can authorise your:
- BAS agent – to receive activity statement communications
- tax agent – to receive income tax communications.
If you want your communications from us sent to your registered agent, we will send them electronically to ATO Online services for agents.
Written authorisation and declaration
Your registered agent needs your:
- written authorisation to set or change your communication preferences
- written declaration that the information you have provided is true and correct to set or change your communication preferences.
They will tell you how they want your authorisation and declaration. For example, through email, fax or paper.
You need to keep a copy of your written authorisation and declaration for up to 5 years, depending on your circumstances. We recommend your registered agent also keep a copy for their records.
BAS agents can only be given authorisation for activity statement and debt communications.
How to check your communication preferences
How you check your preference will depend on if you are an:
Individual or sole trader
You can view your communication preferences if you have a myGov account and a link to the ATO. You can:
- sign in to myGovExternal Link and select ATO from your member services
- select My profile on your ATO online services homepage
- select Communication
- select Preferences.
Non-individual
You can view your communication preferences in Online services for business if you have an account. You can:
- sign in to your ATO online services for business
- select Communication
- select Preferences.
Communication history
Communication history allows you to view most of your communications from us online at any time. This includes communications sent to your agent on your behalf. Sole traders can only view their communication history in their individual online service, it is not available in their online business service.
Individuals or sole traders
To view your communication history:
- sign in to myGovExternal Link and select Australian Taxation Office from your linked services
- select My profile on your ATO online services homepage
- select Communication
- select History.
Non-individuals
To view your communication history:
- log in to Online services for business homepage
- select Communication
- select History.
You can view communications as far back as 1 July 2008. You can search for communications in periods of up to 5 years.
Not all communications we send to you and your agent are available in your communication history. Any direct communication you've had with ATO officers won't be displayed. For example, letters sent during a review or audit.
We will continue to make more communications available in the future.
Communication preferences allows you to authorise your tax professional to tell us where to send digital communications.