ATO Tax Refund Email Scam — What Australians Need to Know
You received an email claiming to be from the Australian Taxation Office about a pending tax refund. It asks you to submit your details through a link. The ATO does not send refund notifications by email with links. This is a phishing scam.
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How This Scam Works
Critical Risk — Australian Government Impersonation
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) does not send emails with links to claim tax refunds. If you're owed a refund, it will be processed through your myGov account or paid directly to your bank account on file.
You receive an email claiming to be from the ATO saying you are entitled to a tax refund. It asks you to click a link and provide your Tax File Number (TFN), bank account details, and other personal information to claim the money.
The link leads to a fake ATO or myGov website designed to capture your sensitive information. With your TFN and personal details, scammers can commit identity theft, file fraudulent tax returns in your name, and redirect legitimate refunds to their own bank accounts.
According to Scamwatch (ACCC), Australians lost over $2.74 billion to scams in 2023. Government impersonation scams — particularly ATO and myGov impersonation — are consistently among the most reported scam types, with the ATO receiving millions of reports of suspicious communications each year.
Red Flags
- Claims you are owed a tax refund from the ATO
- Asks for your Tax File Number (TFN) or bank details
- Sender address is not from @ato.gov.au
- Link leads to a website that is not ato.gov.au or my.gov.au
- Creates urgency with a deadline to claim your refund
The ATO processes refunds automatically through your tax return. You can check refund status through your myGov account linked to the ATO, or by calling the ATO directly.
What You Should Do
What To Do
- Do not click any links in the email
- Do not provide your TFN or banking information
- Sign in to myGov at my.gov.au and check your ATO account for any messages
- Call the ATO directly at 13 28 61 to verify
- Report the scam to Scamwatch
How to Verify Legitimately
Log in to your myGov account at my.gov.au and navigate to your linked ATO account. Any genuine communications from the ATO — including refund notifications — will appear in your myGov inbox. You can also call the ATO at 13 28 61 (individuals) to check your tax position and refund status.
Sources
- Scamwatch (ACCC) — Targeting Scams: Report of the ACCC on Scams Activity 2023 (Australians lost $2.74 billion)
- Australian Taxation Office — Verify or report a scam