We're authorised by the Taxation Administration Act 1953 to request your tax file number (TFN). We'll use your TFN to identify you in our records. It isn't an offence not to provide your TFN. However, if you don't provide your TFN, you'll be unable to use the ATO online lodgment option.
We're also authorised to ask for the information on your income tax return by the:
- Income Tax Assessment Act 1936
- Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
- A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999
- Superannuation (Government Co-contributions for Low Income Earners) Act 2003
- Superannuation (Unclaimed Money and Lost Members) Act 1999.
We need this information to help us administer taxation and super laws. If the information isn't collected, it could increase the chance of a delay or error in the processing of your assessment.
Certain information about your device/computer, your browser and the authentication process will also be logged when you authenticate online and use myTax.
Where authorised by law, we may collect certain information about you from third parties, such as financial institutions, health insurers and employers. We'll use this information, and other information already held by us, to pre-fill certain items in myTax. You'll remain responsible for the accuracy of the information that you submit through myTax, including any information which has been pre-populated for you. Therefore, you should check the accuracy of any information carefully before you submit your income tax return.
Where authorised by law, we may give information collected as a result of your lodgment, to other government departments and agencies, including:
- Department of Education
- Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
- Services Australia
- Department of Social Services
- Department of Veterans' Affairs
- Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Reserve Bank of Australia
We also provide taxpayer information to treaty partners overseas under international tax agreements.
If you have an Australian Business Number, we may collect some information on this form under the A New Tax System (Australian Business Number Act) 1999 and use it to update your details on the Australian Business Register (ABR)External Link. Where authorised by law, select information may be made publicly available and some we may pass on to a wide range of government agencies, including Commonwealth, state and local government agencies.
Our privacy policy contains important information about your privacy, including information about how:
- you can access and seek correction of information we hold about you
- to make a complaint if you think we have breached the Australian Privacy PrinciplesExternal Link
- we will deal with any privacy complaints.
If you have a privacy concern or need more information, phone or write to our privacy hotline.
To report an instance where you suspect your privacy has been compromised, see Data breach guidance for individuals.