To link the ATO to myGov, sign in to myGov, follow the prompts to link to the ATO, confirm your personal details, then answer questions to confirm your identity. You must sign in with myID, an authenticator app or an SMS code to an Australian mobile: the ATO won't let you link if your sign in option is a secret question.
Once linked, ATO online services is where individuals and sole traders lodge a tax return through myTax and see their tax and super details in one place. Businesses use a separate login, Online services for business, which runs on myID and Relationship Authorisation Manager instead of myGov.
Below are the 4 steps, what to have ready, and what each linking error code means, straight from the ATO's own help pages.
Which ATO login do you need?
| You are | Where you log in |
|---|---|
| An individual or sole trader | ATO online services, through myGov |
| A business (company, partnership, trust) | Online services for business |
| A registered tax or BAS agent | Online services for agents |
| Managing who can see a business's tax information | Access Manager |
If you're a sole trader, you use the individuals route through myGov. That's the one this guide covers.
How to link the ATO to myGov
- Sign in to your myGov account.
- Follow the prompts to link to the ATO. You can also go to View and link services and select Link next to the Australian Taxation Office.
- Enter or confirm your personal details.
- Answer questions to confirm your identity.
If you can't confirm who you are online, the ATO says it'll tell you what to do next. For some error codes, below, that means contacting the ATO.
The sign in rule that blocks most people
The ATO accepts 3 sign in options for linking: myID at Standard or Strong strength (the one it recommends), an authenticator app that generates a one-time code, or a code by SMS to an Australian mobile number. If you're overseas, don't have an Australian mobile or have poor reception, use myID, a passkey or an authenticator.
Secret questions don't count. If secret questions are your sign in option, you'll need to change it in myGov under Sign in settings first. And if you later switch to secret questions as your only option, myGov unlinks you from the ATO.
What the identity questions ask
You won't get questions on everything. They're based on records the ATO already holds about you, so have a few of these nearby before you start:
- a recent payslip from your employer
- a notice of assessment from the last 5 years
- details of an active super account (from a super statement or your super fund's app)
- the travel document you used to apply for a TFN as a migrant or visitor, if that was in the last 4 years
- the receipt reference number from your TFN application
You can skip a question you're not sure about, but skipping every question counts as a failed attempt. Too many failed attempts and you're locked out for a while.
ATO linking error codes and fixes
| Error | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| OAS.001, OAS.002 | You've used myID with the ATO before, which set your online access strength | Select Cancel, sign out, and sign back in with myID at the same or a higher strength |
| IDD.002, IDD.004, IDD.006 | Your details don't match the ATO record, or several records were found | Check your TFN, name and address match what the ATO holds |
| OVK.001 | Your current sign in method isn't supported for linking | Sign out and sign back in with myID, then try again |
| LCK.001 to LCK.005 | You've used all your attempts | Wait until the time and date shown, then try again |
| IDD.003, ICI.001, OVK.002 | Linking can't be completed online | Contact the ATO |
The most common fix is formatting. Enter your TFN as 9 digits with no spaces. Only the first 40 characters of your given name and family name count, and if you have one name only, put it in the family name field.
The myID catch is worth knowing. Your ID strength is set per device, so if you set up myID again on a new phone and it's only at Standard while you used Strong before, you'll keep hitting OAS errors until you raise it.
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When the link has disappeared
If myGov says it can't find a link to the ATO, go to View and link services. If the ATO isn't shown as linked, select Link. If it's shown as linked but still won't open, select Unlink, wait for the confirmation, then select Link again.
If you didn't set an online access strength yourself, or think someone else has been into your account, the ATO says to contact it straight away.
My advice
Set up myID before you even start, because it's the one option that avoids most of the errors in the table and it isn't tied to your phone number. Then link well ahead of the tax return deadline, not on the night, because a lockout means waiting until the time the ATO gives you. If you're new to lodging, our guide to the tax-free threshold explains one of the first questions myTax asks.
Frequently asked questions
How do I link the ATO to myGov?
Sign in to myGov, follow the prompts to link to the ATO, enter or confirm your personal details, then answer questions to confirm your identity. You can also start from View and link services in myGov.
Why can't I link the ATO to my myGov account?
The most common reasons are signing in with a secret question, details that don't match the ATO record, or signing in with a weaker myID than you used before. Check your TFN is 9 digits with no spaces and sign in with myID.
Can I link the ATO to myGov from overseas?
Yes, but SMS codes need an Australian mobile number. The ATO suggests using myID, a passkey or an authenticator if you're overseas or don't have an Australian mobile.
What does error OAS.001 mean?
It means you've previously used myID with the ATO, which set your online access strength. Sign out and sign back in to myGov with myID at the same or a higher ID strength.
Do sole traders use ATO online services or Online services for business?
Sole traders use the individuals route, ATO online services through myGov. Companies, partnerships and trusts use Online services for business.
