Tax scams targeting Australians are more sophisticated in 2026 than ever — impersonating the ATO, myGov, and tax agents via phone, SMS, email, and social media. The ATO reported that Australians lost millions of dollars to tax scams in 2025, with scammers increasingly using AI-generated voices, spoofed caller IDs, and cloned websites to appear legitimate. Knowing the warning signs can protect you from significant financial and identity theft losses.
Warning Sign 1: Threats of Immediate Arrest or Legal Action
The ATO never threatens immediate arrest, calls police on you, or demands you stay on the phone. Calls claiming you will be arrested within the hour if you do not pay immediately are always a scam. The ATO communicates serious matters through registered mail or formal ATO letters, and any debt dispute has formal review and appeal rights.
Warning Sign 2: Requests for Unusual Payment Methods
The ATO only accepts payment via BPAY, credit/debit card through the ATO's official website or myGov, or bank transfer to ATO-issued payment reference numbers. The ATO never asks you to pay debts with gift cards (iTunes, Google Play, Steam), cryptocurrency, wire transfers to overseas accounts, or cash. Any caller requesting these payment methods is a scammer — regardless of how official they sound.
Warning Sign 3: Unexpected Tax Refund Requests
Scammers send SMS or email messages claiming you are owed a tax refund and asking you to click a link and provide your bank details, myGov login, or tax file number to receive it. The ATO sends refunds directly to the bank account on your ATO profile — they do not send refunds by email link or ask for your bank details in an SMS. If you receive such a message, do not click any link.
Warning Sign 4: Spoofed ATO Phone Numbers
Scammers use "caller ID spoofing" to display the ATO's genuine phone number (13 28 61 or 1300 numbers) on your screen. The ATO's caller ID appearing on your phone does not confirm the call is genuine. If you receive an unexpected call claiming to be the ATO, hang up and call the ATO directly using the number from ato.gov.au to verify.
Warning Sign 5: Requests for Your Tax File Number by Email
Your Tax File Number (TFN) is one of the most sensitive pieces of personal information you have. The ATO communicates through myGov's secure messaging — not email. If you receive an email asking you to confirm, verify, or provide your TFN, it is a phishing attempt. Never send your TFN by email or SMS under any circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I report a tax scam in Australia?
Report ATO impersonation scams to the ATO at ato.gov.au/General/Online-services/Online-security/Report-a-scam/. You can also report scams to Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au) operated by the ACCC, which publishes scam alerts and statistics. If you have provided personal details or made a payment to a scammer, contact your bank immediately and report to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (cyber.gov.au).
Does the ATO ever call me without notice?
The ATO does make outbound calls, but they will never demand immediate payment over the phone without prior written notice, never threaten arrest, and never ask for payment by gift card or cryptocurrency. If you are unsure whether a call is genuine, ask for the officer's name and employee ID, then hang up and call the ATO directly on 13 28 61 to verify. A legitimate ATO officer will not pressure you to stay on the line.
Received a suspicious ATO communication or been targeted by a scam? Contact AWTS — we can help you verify any ATO correspondence and protect your tax identity.
