Latest news with #myGov
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Centrelink issues ATO alert as Aussies submit their tax returns: 'Steal your money'
Services Australia has warned Australians to have their wits about them as they submit their tax returns. More than 15 million people lodge their financial information with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) after July 1, and it's the perfect time for scammers to pounce on unsuspecting Aussies. They often try to impersonate government bodies like myGov and Centrelink by sending out mass text messages and emails across the country. Services Australia said it can be dire if you let your guard down. "They pretend to be us so they can steal your personal information and money after you click a link or give them your details," it said. If they get access to your personal information, they can conduct identity fraud or log in to certain accounts like myGov and lodge fake tax returns on your behalf. RELATED ATO issues urgent tax return warning as Aussies risk losing over $1,500 Common neighbour problem plaguing Aussie houses Compensation sought for millions of Qantas customers How scammers are preying on Aussies during tax time Services Australia has noticed scammers have been trying to catch out certain Aussies with certain tactics this year. One is highlighting a one-time payment, tax rebate or other type of refund, as many will be hoping for a cost-of-living boost with their tax return. They also might try to convince you that there is a problem with your myGov account, tax return information, or that your account is about to be "frozen or suspended".These hackers will usually use urgent language in their messages to make you act quickly. Their correspondence to you will also typically include a link or URL, but Aussies have been urged to avoid this at all costs. "Don't click on the internet link," Services Australia said. "If you clicked on a suspicious link or gave personal information to a scammer, head to our website to find out what to do." The government body said it can help in the following ways if you've been hacked or scammed: offer support and advice about how to protect yourself and your personal information check your customer records for any suspicious activity make corrections to your records if needed add extra security measures to prevent unauthorised access. 150 per cent jump in scams as ATO adds better protection The ATO issued a similar warning about scammers ever since Aussies were able to submit their tax returns for the 2024-25 year. The tax office had seen a 150 per cent increase in impersonation scams over the last 12 months, with 90 per cent of these being conducted via email. 'This is the time of year when people are awaiting their tax returns or expecting to hear from the ATO, and scammers know it,' ATO assistant commissioner Rob Thomson said. The ATO has strengthened the security features on its app and Aussies can now monitor their accounts in real-time through alerts if changes have been made to their records. If certain details are changed without your permission, you can instantly lock down your account to ensure nothing else is affected. 'If you receive a notification and something doesn't feel right, lock your account immediately in our app, and verify and report the interaction on the ATO website or by calling 1800 467 033 during business hours to discuss any suspicious activity," Thomson in to access your portfolio
SBS Australia
6 days ago
- Business
- SBS Australia
DIY or Hire a Tax Agent?: A Guide to filing your tax return in Australia
A financial year or tax year in Australia usually runs from July 1 to June 30, and you must file your tax return before October 31. You can file online using the myGov portal linked to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) or seek help from a registered Tax Agent. Tax agents recommend ensuring that the expenses you claim are directly related to your work and supported by receipts or other proof for your deductions. Pakinggan ang Podcast SBS Filipino 15/07/2025 08:31 Filipino 📢 Where to Catch SBS Filipino
9 News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- 9 News
New questions to be included on next month's Census Test
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here New questions on sexual orientation and gender will be included on a Census test sent to thousands of Aussies. Australia's next Census will be held in 2026, but the Census test will take place next month for some areas. The ABS said it will include the planned questions to collect information on sexual orientation and gender from over 16s. Australia's next Census will be held in 2026, but the Census Test will take place next month for some areas. (The Age) Census bosses say they will also update the question on sex to collect 'sex recorded at birth', and update response categories. The household and family section questions will be updated "to introduce non-gendered terms to be more inclusive," it said. "The ABS will ask two questions to collect data on the new topic," the ABS said. "These questions will be included in a large-scale Census Test due to take place in August 2025. "The ABS will consider test outcomes and will make minor refinements to the question designs if required." Around 60,000 households have been chosen to take part in the test. They are in Rockhampton, Gladstone and Yeppoon in Queensland, Melbourne in Victoria, Perth, Albany and the Wheatbelt region in Western Australia and Coonamble and Gilgandra New South Wales. Census General Manager, Jenny Telford, said the test is an essential part of the ABS' preparations to ensure the 2026 Census runs smoothly. "We are testing our collection processes and IT systems to ensure our processes work well and that the form captures the right information, in the right way," Telford said. The ABS is also partnering with Services Australia to test a new option to access the Census through myGov online. "You can complete your form as soon as you receive your instructions if you know who will be home on Census Test night, Tuesday 5 August 2025," Telford said. LGBTIQ+ advocates have called on the government to include questions about sexuality in the 2026 Census. CONTACT US
Sky News AU
10-07-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
ATO warns Australians filing tax returns to be alert to opportunistic scammers who may seek to impersonate government agencies
The Australian Taxation Office has issued a new warning to Australians who are lodging their tax returns to be on the lookout for opportunistic scammers seeking to impersonate the government agency. Many of these scammers originate overseas, but cybersecurity experts have said there is also an added danger of artificial intelligence being used to impersonate an Australian accent. It has prompted the taxation office to issue a warning and has cyber security experts alarmed. Sophos field chief information security officer for APJ Aaron Bugal said lack of knowledge about how the ATO communicates can lead to Australians falling victim to tax scams. "With added pressure of tax season and people unaware that the ATO's main form of communication is through their myGov inbox rather than direct emails or phone calls, it's understandable that individuals are often caught off guard," Mr Bugal said, as reported by Cyber Daily. Mr Bugal said the stress of collating financial information and then filing the returns creates an ideal environment for scammers to operate in. The field chief information security officer said scammers are now turning to artificial intelligence to create deep fakes of people and famous Australians which have conned people. "Identifying these scams is becoming increasingly tough. Scammers are now leveraging AI to duplicate official ATO emails with alarming accuracy," he said. "It's not just the less tech-savvy who are at risk; even vigilant users can be misled. Just one click can result in financial loss, identity theft, and repeated fraud attempts." In a statement, the ATO said it would never make unsolicited calls or SMS messages to people, adding official messages would come through myGOV. "We may send you an SMS or email asking you to contact us, but we'll never send an unsolicited message with a link asking you to return personal information or log into our online services," it said. To contact the ATO, head to or call 13 28 65
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Centrelink alert for 240,000 Aussie families as some see popular payment stopped: 'Confirm now'
More than 240,000 families receive the Child Care Subsidy through Centrelink and some may have found their payments recently stopped. That's because of a key deadline recipients had to meet last week. If you received the Child Care Subsidy in the 2023-24 financial year and didn't confirm your family's income by June 30, your payments would have stopped. From July 7, your Child Care Subsidy will have reduced to 0 per cent. Services Australia said recipients needed to confirm their family income for the 2023-24 income year now so that it can start paying them again. RELATED Centrelink age pension changes coming into effect for millions today Major banks reveal updated RBA interest rate cut predictions after 'surprise' hold Rare $2 coin worth 10 times more due to this detail: 'Lucky to find' "Confirm your income now if your Child Care Subsidy (CCS) has stopped," Services Australia said. 'You can confirm your income online by lodging a tax return or telling us you don't need to. If you had a partner at any time during 2023-24, they need to do this too." If you don't need to lodge a tax return, you can confirm your family income by advising Services Australia that you're not required to lodge, using your Centrelink online account through myGov or the Express Plus Centrelink app. If you're using the app, select 'More' from your home screen, then select 'Advise' tax non-lodgement. If your payment has stopped, Services Australia can start it again once you've confirmed your income, as long as you're still eligible. 'Once you've confirmed your income, we'll start your CCS again from the first day of the next CCS fortnight after you told us. A CCS fortnight is a two-week period that starts every second Monday,' Services Australia said. If there's a gap between your Child Care Subsidy stopping and starting again, Services Australia said it won't backpay you for that period. At the end of each financial year, Services Australia compares the income estimate families provide during the year with their actual income. 'This is called balancing and it's how we check you got paid the right amount during the year,' Services Australia general manager Hank Jongen said. You usually have one year from the end of the financial year to confirm your family income for the CCS. Services Australia will write to you before this date to remind you. So if you got the subsidy during the 2024-25 year, you will have until June 30, 2026, to confirm your family's income or risk having your payment in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
