Check online first
If an online option is available, we recommend that you use it before phoning us. If you phone about something that can be resolved through an online channel, we will direct you to that channel.
Use our digital education resources and tax agent online services guide to get the most out of our online services.
Before phoning us, check you have your:
- registered agent number (RAN)
- proof of identity (POI).
Phone us
You can phone us on 13 72 86 between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. Throughout the year, we offer extended hours service. Check our Contact us page to see if extend hours currently apply.
If you can't resolve a tax or super law-related enquiry, or a complex administrative matter relating to your client, through existing channels you may be eligible to use our Tax practitioner assistance service.
Our Fast Key Codes
Fast Key Codes allow you to key ahead to the option of your choice without listening to the entire menu.
This Tax agent phone services (Fast Key Code) guide will direct you to the right Fast Key Code for the topic you need to phone us about. It is important you use the correct Fast Key Code so you are directed to the right person with the right skills. If you select the incorrect Fast Key Code, your call may need to be transferred and longer wait times will apply.
When you look up the Fast Key Codes in this guide, you will also find information and links to any available online options. Save time by using the online options rather than phoning us.
We recommend you bookmark this page as we regularly update it.
The Fast Key Codes (and online options) are:
- Activity statements: completing, requesting and revising
- Debt, payments and account information
- Feedback, complaints and reporting tax evasion
- Lodgment, including all business and individual obligations
- Online services and practice support
- Registration and updating client details
- Superannuation
- Tax law and advice
- Letters – alternative phone service
- Other phone services
Along with the following specific information, we also have useful information on business activity statements and how to prepare and lodge.
Activity statements: completing, requesting and revising
Topic and ATO website information |
Online services available |
13 72 86 |
---|---|---|
Assistance completing Activity statements, including:
For more help in completing Activity Statement labels, see our Instructions |
You can do this on Online Services for Agents For how to do it, watch our How to lodge an activity statement video For more help with lodging online, use our Online Services for agents activity statement user guide |
1 4 1 |
Generating a new or replacing an activity statement Revising a lodged activity statement |
You can do this on Online Services for Agents For how to do it, watch our How to revise an activity statement video |
1 4 1 |
Respond to our request to contact us about activity statement exceptions |
None |
1 4 2 |
Debt, payments and account information
Topic and ATO website information |
Online Services available |
13 72 86 |
---|---|---|
General interest charge (GIC) calculations, remission and GIC rates Failure to lodge (FTL) on time penalty calculations and remission |
You can do this on Online Services for Agents For how you can do this online, see Request remission |
1 2 2 |
Higher education loan program (HELP) For more information in understanding HELP, see Study and training support loans |
None |
1 2 1 |
Explanation of account – individual |
None |
1 2 5 2 |
Explanation of account – non-individual |
None |
1 2 5 1 |
For support options, see Help with paying |
You can do this on Online Services for Agents For how to do it, watch: |
1 2 2 |
Refund or credit transfer for individuals |
You can do this on Online Services for Agents For how to do it, see: |
1 2 5 2 |
Refund or credit transfer for non-individuals |
You can do this on Online Services for Agents For how to do it, see: |
1 2 5 1 |
Variations to vary an individual pay as you go (PAYG) rate of withholding |
You can do this on Online Services for Agents For how to lodge a downward variation, see Variations |
1 2 3 |
Feedback, complaints and reporting tax evasion
Topic and ATO website information |
Online Services available |
13 72 86 |
---|---|---|
Business tax feedback and complaints |
You can do this on Online Services for Agents For how to do it, see Tax agent feedback and complaints |
3 2 1 2 |
Individual tax feedback and complaints |
You can do this on Online Services for Agents For how to do it, see Tax agent feedback and complaints |
3 2 1 1 |
Superannuation feedback and complaints |
You can do this on Online Services for Agents For how to do it, see Tax agent feedback and complaints |
3 2 1 3 |
All other feedback, complaints and compliments |
You can do this on Online Services for Agents For how to do it, see Tax agent feedback and complaints |
3 2 1 4 |
Report fraud, tax evasion, a planning scheme or unpaid super (including phoenix or shadow economy activity) |
3 4 |
Lodgment, including all business and individual obligations
Along with the following specific information, we also have useful information on how to prepare and lodge and apply for private rulings.
Topic and ATO website information |
Online Services available |
13 72 86 |
---|---|---|
Business lodgments, including:
For help:
|
You can use Online Services for Agents for:
You can use Practitioner Lodgment Service for tax returns For how to lodge activity statements online, see:
For tax return online services, see:
|
1 3 1 1 |
Foreign resident capital gains withholding lodgment, including:
|
To access our online form, see Clearance certificate application for Australian residents |
1 3 1 2 |
Individual tax return lodgments |
You can use our Practitioner Lodgment Service For how to lodge online, see Lodging using the PLS |
1 3 1 2 |
Super lodgment and reporting |
You can use Online Services for Agents To see what you can do online, see Super in our Online services for agents user guide |
4 6 |
Tax agent lodgment program information and assistance |
None |
1 3 2 |
Respond to a lodgment notice from us |
None |
1 3 3 |
Online services and practice support
Along with the following specific information, we also have useful information in PLS help and system availability and Online services for agents user guide.
Topic and ATO website information |
13 72 86 |
---|---|
myGovIDExternal Link or Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM)External Link |
3 5 |
Assistance with Online services for agents including:
|
3 3 |
Registration and updating client details
If your query relates to your tax agent registration, visit the Tax Practitioners BoardExternal Link website.
Topic and ATO website information |
Online Services available |
13 72 86 |
---|---|---|
Duplicate TFN or ABN |
None |
1 1 1 |
GST grouping and branching Joint venture registrations Consolidations and government-controlled registrations |
None |
1 1 2 |
General registration enquiries, including tax registrations New or changes to registration details, including GST, PAYGW and FTC |
You can use Online Services for Agents For how to do it, see How to update, cancel or add registrations |
1 1 3 |
Update bank details |
You can use Online Services for Agents For how to do it, watch Update financial institution details |
1 2 5 2 |
None |
1 2 5 2 |
Superannuation
Topic and ATO website information |
Online Services available |
13 72 86 |
---|---|---|
Downsizing contributions into superannuation To check if and how money can be contributed, see Downsizer super contributions |
None |
4 4 |
Early access on compassionate grounds, including eligible expenses and evidence needed to access super |
None |
4 4 |
None |
4 4 |
|
Division 293, including checking if Division 293 tax has to be paid |
None |
4 3 |
Self-managed super funds (SMSF) To understand more about SMSF, see Self-managed super funds |
None |
4 3 |
None |
4 5 |
|
None |
4 1 2 |
|
General super enquiries including:
|
You can use Online Services for Agents |
4 6 |
Super guarantee including:
|
You can use Online Services for Agents For how to lodge SGC statements online, see Super guarantee charge statement |
4 2 |
None |
4 2 |
Tax law and advice
Our website has significant online resources to help you with your query. We have included links to those resources in the table below.
Only use the listed Fast Key Codes for enquiries about the correct interpretation of tax and superannuation law. Some of the topics listed are complex and, depending on the specifics of your question, we may not be able to provide you with an immediate answer.
Topic and ATO website information |
13 72 86 |
---|---|
Capital gains tax (CGT) – general enquiries, including:
|
2 1 2 2 |
Capital gains tax (CGT) – all other enquiries, including:
|
2 1 2 1 |
2 1 3 |
|
2 1 2 |
|
2 1 2 1 |
|
Excise on alcohol and fuel schemes (excluding fuel tax credits) |
1 1 5 |
Foreign resident capital gains withholding clearance certificates |
2 1 2 3 |
Fringe benefits tax (FBT) tax law advice For information on how FBT affects businesses, not-for-profit and government employers, see Fringe benefits tax |
2 4 1 |
Fuel tax credits tax law advice |
1 1 4 |
GST tax law advice |
2 3 |
Higher education loan program (HELP) – Study and training support loans |
1 2 1 |
2 1 3 |
|
Tax return tax law advice for business, including:
See also Income and deductions for business |
2 1 3 |
Tax return tax law advice for individuals |
2 1 4 |
2 1 3 |
|
Tax losses |
2 1 3 |
New legislation – business |
2 5 |
New legislation – personal |
2 1 4 |
2 1 3 |
|
2 4 2 |
|
2 1 1 |
|
PAYG withholding for:
|
2 1 3 |
2 1 3 |
|
2 1 3 |
|
2 1 3 |
|
1 1 3 |
Letters – alternative phone service
When we send letters to your clients, the phone numbers we quote are for the general community.
To ensure your enquiry is handled in the right way, use the list below to respond to letters from us that quote other phone numbers.
If a letter from us asks your client to phone |
Instead |
---|---|
13 10 20 |
Phone 13 72 86 and select Fast Key Code 4 6 |
13 11 42 (debt issues) |
Phone 13 72 86 and select Fast Key Code 1 2 2 |
13 11 42 (lodgment issues) |
Phone 13 72 86 and select Fast Key Code 1 3 3 |
13 28 66 |
Phone 13 72 86 and select Fast Key Code 1 2 5 1 |
13 28 61 |
Phone 13 72 86 and select Fast Key Code 1 2 5 2 |
1300 130 926 |
Phone 13 72 86 and select Fast Key Code 1 4 2 |
1300 657 162 |
Phone 13 72 86 and select Fast Key Code 1 1 5 |
1300 768 912 |
Phone 13 72 86 and select Fast Key Code 3 |
Other phone services
We provide as many options as possible through the Registered agent phone line. We also have a range of other phone numbers for other topics.
Topic |
Phone number |
---|---|
Direct debit and refund help line For more information on completing a direct debit request to pay personal, business and super tax liabilities, see Direct debit request |
1800 802 308 |
myGovIDExternal Link – enquiries and support |
1300 287 539 |
myGovIDExternal Link – Compromised enquiries |
1300 287 539 |
Disaster events – assistance for registered agents |
1800 700 724 |
Payment methods:
|
1800 815 886 |
Publications can be printed or ordered:
|
1300 720 092 |
Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM)External Link – enquiries and support |
1300 287 539 |
Using Standard Business Reporting (SBR) cloud-based enabled practice management software – Notify us of a hosted SBR software service |
1300 852 232 |