Every year, as tax time approaches, the scam calls ramp up. Someone rings claiming to be from the ATO. They sound official. They’re often pushy. They want you to confirm details, pay a debt immediately, or verify your identity - and if you hesitate, the pressure increases.
These calls are getting harder to distinguish from the real thing. In July 2025 alone, the ATO received nearly 7,500 impersonation scam reports. The numbers spike every year between April and July.
The ATO’s response to this is practical and long overdue: a ‘verify call’ feature in the free ATO app, rolled out in April 2026. It lets you confirm in real time - while you’re still on the phone - whether the call is genuinely from the ATO.
How it works
It’s genuinely simple. If you get a call from someone claiming to be the ATO:
- Open the ATO app on your phone and log in
- Tap ‘Verify Call’ on the main screen
- Wait a moment - you’ll get a clear notification confirming whether the call is real
⚠ If no confirmation appears, hang up. It’s almost certainly a scam.
No complex steps. No special equipment. Just your phone and the app - which is free and available on both Apple and Android.
Why this actually matters
Scam calls work because they create urgency. “Your tax file number has been compromised.” “You owe a debt that needs to be paid today.” “If you don’t confirm your identity right now, we’ll take action.”
That pressure is the whole mechanism. The verify call feature removes it completely. Instead of having to decide in the moment whether the caller is legitimate, you can check before you share a single piece of information.
A real ATO officer will have no problem waiting 30 seconds while you verify. If the caller objects or rushes you - that tells you everything you need to know.
The cost of getting this wrong isn’t just a lost payment. Scammers who successfully impersonate the ATO can redirect refunds, access superannuation, or gather personal information that takes months and sometimes thousands of dollars to untangle. This tool closes that door. If you're unsure about your broader tax position heading into tax time, our advisory team can help.
Set it up now - before you need it
The worst time to figure out how this works is while someone is pressuring you on the phone. Take five minutes now:
- Download or update the ATO app (Apple App Store or Google Play)
- Register your device inside the app
- Find the ‘Verify Call’ button so you know exactly where it is
- While you’re there, check your myID settings in myGov - if your identity strength isn’t set to ‘Strong’, upgrade it now
That last step matters. A higher myID strength level makes it significantly harder for anyone to access your tax or super information online, even if they’ve managed to get hold of some of your personal details.
Not sure if a call, email or message is real?
The verify call feature handles phone calls, but scams also arrive via text and email. If you’re ever unsure whether an ATO communication is genuine, don’t respond directly - contact us first. We can check it through official channels quickly and give you a clear answer.
It’s a two-minute conversation that can save a lot of grief.
Download the ATO app today, set up verify call, and go into tax time knowing you’ve got a real line of defence. And if anything ever looks suspicious, our team is always here to help you check.
-1.png)
