For simple, secure and flexible access to Online services for business, you will need both:
- your Digital ID (such as myID) – an app you download to your smart device that lets you prove who you are online
- Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM) – an authorisation service that allows you to act on behalf of a business online, once you've linked your business with your Digital ID.
Who needs to use Digital ID and RAM?
You’ll need to use your Digital ID (such as myID) and RAM if you:
- use Online services for business
- use Access Manager
- access other government online services for business, such as the Australian Business Register (ABR)
- need to authorise others (such as your employees) to access government online services on behalf of your business
- are a tax professional using Online services for agents.
Benefits of using myID and RAM
It’s simple – use your myID to unlock multiple government online services including Online services for business.
It’s flexible – use your myID on the go, anywhere and anytime.
It’s secure – myID uses security features in your device to protect your identity and information.
It’s streamlined – use RAM to manage all your authorisations in one place.
What you need to get started
You’ll need a compatible smart device. The myID app is compatible with most smart devices but performs best on devices using the latest operating system or previous two versions.
Note: If you incur expenses associated with setting up and using your myID to access online services, you may be able to claim a tax deduction.
You'll also need 2 Australian identity documents – such as your passport, driver’s licence, birth certificate, visa (using your foreign passport) or Medicare card.
Your name should match on these 2 documents. However, if you’ve had a change in name, you may be able to verify this using a marriage certificate or change of name certificate (Tasmania, South Australia, Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory only).
Get started in a few simple steps
You only need to set up once; then you can use myID again and again to access our online services.
Step 1: Set up your myID
To set up your myID:
- Download the myID app, available from the App Store or Google Play.
- Follow the prompts to enter your full name, date of birth and email address. Use a personal email address that belongs to you and is not shared.
- Verify your 2 ID documents - if you're verifying your Medicare card, it will appear as an option after you verify your first document.
For more information, visit www.myid.gov.au/set-upExternal Link.
Step 2: Link your myID to your business using RAM
As the principal authority (business owner or person responsible for the business) you must be the first person to link your business’s ABN to your myID.
Where another principal authority or authorisation administrator is already acting on behalf of the business online, they can authorise you in RAM to act on behalf of the business.
If no one else has linked, go to info.authorisationmanager.gov.au/principal-authorityExternal Link to find out how to link your business.
Step 3: Log in to Online services for business
You've now finished setting up myID and RAM.
Your myID app will only be used for the log in step. When you log into Online services for business a 4-digit code will appear on the login screen after you enter your email address. You need to enter this code in the myID app. Log in to Online services for businessExternal Link.
Additional steps
Set up authorisations in RAM
Use RAM to authorise others to act on behalf of your business. For example, if you have employees who access Online services for business on behalf of your business.
Employees
Before you authorise employees, check they have set up their myID. As myID belongs to them and not the business, your staff should set it up using their personal email address.
When you authorise an employee in RAM, you need to enter their legal name (which matches the name used to set up their myID) and an email address. They will then receive an authorisation request by email and have 7 days to accept it using their myID.
Note: You can use Access Manager to customise someone’s access and permissions to ATO services.
Tax or BAS agents
The process for authorising tax or BAS agents outside your business (for example, tax professionals who are not your employees) is different. Due to recent changes, you may need to authorise your selected tax or BAS agent via the new agent nomination feature in Online services for business. This means you won’t use RAM to authorise them. For instructions on nominating your tax or BAS agent using this new feature, visit Client-to-agent linking steps.
Using software to report to us
If you use cloud-based Standard Business Reporting (SBR)-enabled software, you don’t need to take additional steps – your software provider will do this for you.
If you use desktop or locally hosted software (not cloud), you may need to undertake additional steps – visit info.authorisationmanager.gov.au/machinecredentialsExternal Link.