Moved House? How to Update Your Address with myGov and the ATO
Author
Emmanuel Sarris
Date Published
If you've moved, you may have read that you must update your address "with myID" within 28 days. That isn't quite right. myID (formerly myGovID) is the Australian Government's digital identity app: it proves who you are when you sign in to myGov, ATO online services and business portals. It doesn't hold your address, and there's no 28-day deadline attached to it. Your address lives with each government service you deal with, and some of them, mainly business registrations, do have a 28-day rule.
This guide explains where to update your address after a move, which deadlines are real, and what changes if you run a business or company.
myID, myGov and your address: what's the difference?
myID is a sign-in and identity app. It doesn't collect your address or phone number, so there's nothing to update in it when you move.
myGov is the account that links services like the ATO, Centrelink and Medicare. Your myGov profile holds contact details, and you can choose to pass a new address to linked services.
Each agency (the ATO, Services Australia, the Australian Electoral Commission, the Australian Business Register, ASIC) keeps its own records, and updating one doesn't automatically update the others.
Sign in to myGov, go to your Profile and then Contact details, and enter your new address. You can tick the linked services you want the change sent to, such as the ATO, Centrelink and Medicare. myGov warns that ticking this option doesn't guarantee every service updates its records, so check that each one accepted the change. Some services only accept it if they're linked and the address is in Australia.
2. Directly with the ATO
You can also update your address with the ATO only, through ATO online services (accessed via myGov) or the ATO app (More, then My details, then Personal details). If you can't go online, the ATO's Change of details for individuals form can be posted, but it can take up to 28 days to process. See the ATO's Update your personal contact details page.
3. Through your tax agent
If a registered tax agent lodges your return, they can update your postal address with the ATO for you, and the address on your lodged tax return updates your income tax record. Just tell your agent when you move. If you haven't linked us yet, see how to add your tax agent to myGov.
Deadlines that actually apply to individuals
Centrelink: Services Australia asks you to report a change of address within 14 days, and you must tell them if you owe them money even when you're not getting a payment. Late reporting can lead to overpayments you have to repay. See Changing your address if you're moving house.
Electoral roll: once you've lived at your new address for a month you're entitled to enrol there, and the law then gives you 21 days to update your enrolment. Update it with the AEC.
The ATO: there's no fixed deadline for individuals, but an old address means you can miss letters about your assessment, debts or reviews, so update it as soon as you move.
Driver licence and vehicle registration: these are state and territory matters with their own timeframes, so check with your local transport agency.
Where the 28-day rule comes from: business registrations
The 28-day deadline people remember is real, but it applies to business registrations rather than to myID or myGov.
ABN details (Australian Business Register): you must update your ABN details within 28 days of becoming aware of a change, including your business address or postal address. Update it in ABR online services, or ask your tax agent. See Update your ABN details.
Company addresses (ASIC): if a company's registered office or principal place of business changes, the company must tell ASIC within 28 days or a late fee applies. See Change a company address.
Directors and company secretaries: changes to an officeholder's personal details, including their residential address, must be notified to ASIC within 28 days.
Business names: a business name holder's details, including their address, must be updated with ASIC within 28 days. See Change business name holder details.
These registers are separate. Updating your address with ASIC doesn't update your ABN record, and changing your company details doesn't change your business name details, so a move can mean three or four separate updates. If you're a sole trader, see our guide to registering an ABN; for companies, our company tax returns team can handle the ASIC and ABR updates with your next lodgement.
A moving checklist
Update your myGov profile and choose the linked services to notify
Check the ATO, Centrelink and Medicare records actually changed
Tell your tax agent your new address
Update your electoral enrolment once you've lived there a month
If you have an ABN, update the ABR within 28 days
If you run a company or hold a business name, update ASIC within 28 days
Update your bank, super fund, insurer, driver licence and vehicle registration
Need a hand?
If you've moved and aren't sure your tax and business records have caught up, we can check your ATO details and update your ABN and ASIC records for you. Contact us, call 0488 854 200 or book an appointment.
How do I get help with this from the ATO?
The ATO provides guidance through ato.gov.au, the Small Business Support Line (13 28 66), and Online Services for individuals and businesses. For complex situations, a registered tax agent provides advice tailored to your specific circumstances and professional indemnity protection. You can verify agent registration at the TPB register at tpb.gov.au.
What records do I need to keep for tax purposes in Australia?
Most tax records must be kept for five years from the date of lodgement or the date the transaction occurred, whichever is later. Records must be in English or convertible to English and must be sufficient to explain the income and deductions in your return. The ATO can request records at any time during the retention period.
When do I need a registered tax agent in Australia?
Consider a registered tax agent when your affairs involve multiple income sources, business activity, investment properties, capital gains, or overseas income. Agents extend your lodgement deadline, provide safe harbour protection, and take professional responsibility for the advice given. Verify registration at tpb.gov.au.
How does the ATO calculate penalties for compliance failures?
The failure to lodge penalty is based on penalty units ($364 per unit from 1 July 2026), accruing per 28-day period for late returns and BAS lodgements. Incorrect information penalties range from 25% to 75% of the tax shortfall depending on whether the behaviour was careless, reckless, or intentional. Proactive disclosure before an audit begins typically results in significantly reduced penalties.
What is the difference between tax avoidance and tax minimisation?
Tax minimisation is the legal arrangement of your affairs to reduce tax — claiming all eligible deductions, using appropriate structures, and timing income and expenses. Tax avoidance involves arrangements that technically comply with the law but achieve outcomes parliament did not intend. The ATO can apply Part IVA anti-avoidance rules to cancel benefits from avoidance arrangements.
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