Does the ATO send text messages?
Short answer
Yes. The ATO sends SMS reminders about overdue lodgements, payments due and payment plans. The rule that matters is simple: the ATO says it will never send an unsolicited SMS containing a hyperlink. A text with a link, a request for personal details, or a threat is not from the ATO. Check any real reminder by logging in to myGov yourself.
What the ATO actually texts you
The ATO runs regular SMS campaigns and publishes a list of them. The debt-related ones are short and plain, for example a reminder that a payment is due, that an activity statement is overdue, or that interest is being charged on an overdue amount. They typically tell you to go to ATO online services or to phone the ATO, and they name a number you can find on ato.gov.au.
Texts are the bottom rung of the ATO's contact ladder. If you ignore them, the next steps are letters, phone calls and eventually firmer action. Our ATO letters guide shows the full sequence and how long each stage usually lasts.
If your debt has been referred to an external agency, you may also receive texts from recoveriescorp. Those are legitimate too, but the same link rule applies. See I got a text from recoveriescorp. Is it legit?
Real SMS vs scam SMS
| Genuine ATO text | Scam text |
|---|---|
| No hyperlink at all | Contains a link, often a shortened one |
| Tells you to log in to myGov yourself or phone a published number | Tells you to click, reply with details or call an unfamiliar number |
| Mentions lodgement, payment due or your payment plan | Mentions a refund you were not expecting, a suspended TFN, or arrest |
| Calm wording, no deadline in the next few hours | Urgent, threatening, or too good to be true |
The ATO also says it will never ask you to send personal identifying information such as your TFN or bank details by SMS or email, and it will never threaten to cancel your TFN. The wider list of what the real ATO does and does not do is on our scam or real comparison page.
Text about a tax debt worrying you?
We'll match you with a specialist who can check whether it is real and what to do about it. Free.
What to do with a text you are not sure about
- Do not tap any link and do not reply.
- Open myGov by typing the address into your browser, or open the ATO app, and check your inbox and account balance. A real reminder will match something on your account.
- If nothing matches, or the text made a threat, phone the ATO scam line on 1800 008 540 (8:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday) and report it.
- If the debt is real, the text is a prompt, not a punishment. Debts up to $200,000 can usually be put on a payment plan online in minutes, which also stops the reminders.
ALREADY TAPPED A LINK?
If you entered your myGov details or paid anything, phone 1800 008 540 straight away, change your myGov password, and contact your bank. Acting in the first hour matters more than anything else.
What to do next
- Do not tap links or reply to the text.
- Log in to myGov or the ATO app directly and check whether the reminder matches your account.
- If it is real, deal with the debt or lodgement now; if it is not, report it on 1800 008 540.
Related questions
What does a real ATO SMS come from?
ATO texts are sent from a sender ID rather than a normal mobile number, and the ATO does not publish a single fixed number. That is why the content test is the reliable one: no link, no request for personal details, no threat. myGov notifications about a new ATO message also come without links and only tell you to log in.
Why does myGov text me about ATO messages?
If your myGov account is linked to the ATO, the ATO delivers letters to your myGov inbox and myGov sends you an SMS, email or push notification that a new message has arrived. That notification is genuine but it will not contain a link. Log in to myGov the normal way to read the message.
Text about a tax debt worrying you?
We'll match you with a specialist who can check whether it is real and what to do about it. Free.
Get help nowMore questions: 11 Calls, texts, letters and scams questions answered · Full guide: ATO letters & notices