Which ATO number do I call about a debt?
Short answer
Call 13 11 42. That is the ATO's lodge and pay line, and it covers new and existing debts, payment plans, overdue lodgements, penalties and interest, for individuals and businesses. It runs 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday to Friday. Have your TFN or ABN ready, because the ATO will not discuss a debt until it has confirmed who you are.
ATO numbers and what each one is for
| Number | Use it for |
|---|---|
| 13 11 42 | Debts, payment plans, overdue lodgements, penalties and interest. The debt line. |
| 13 28 61 | Individual enquiries: myTax, TFN, returns, PAYG instalments, myGov linking. |
| 13 28 66 | Business enquiries: account balances, activity statements, GST, registrations. |
| 13 10 20 | Superannuation enquiries, including super guarantee. |
| 1800 008 540 | Verify or report a suspected scam. |
All of these run 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday to Friday, local time. If you start on the wrong line the operator will transfer you, but going straight to 13 11 42 saves a queue.
Two more numbers exist only as call-back lines: 1300 880 217 and 1300 466 859 are the ATO's payment support numbers for people the ATO has already contacted and asked to phone back. If you were not asked, use 13 11 42.
Before you dial
A five-minute prep makes the call shorter and the outcome better:
- Log in to ATO online services through myGov and note your total balance, which accounts it sits on, and any overdue lodgements.
- Have your TFN or ABN, date of birth and address ready for the identity check. The ATO will not read your TFN to you or ask for your myGov password.
- Read any letters you have received. Our ATO letters guide tells you which ones carry deadlines, and that changes what you ask for.
- Decide what you can genuinely afford per month before the ATO asks. Debts up to $200,000 can usually be put on a payment plan without a detailed capacity-to-pay review.
If you want a script, what to say when you call the ATO covers the opening line, the questions to ask, and how to raise interest remission.
Not sure who to call or what to ask?
Free, confidential help preparing for the call or having someone make it with you.
When 13 11 42 is not the right call
- Your debt has been referred to recoveriescorp. You can still call the ATO, but the agency now holds the file. The ATO publishes 1300 323 495 for individuals. See how ATO debt collectors work.
- You received a director penalty notice. The 21 days run from the date of posting and a payment plan does not stop it. Read the director penalty notice guide before you call anyone.
- Someone called you and you are not sure it was the ATO. Do not use a number they gave you. Use 13 11 42 or the scam line and follow the checks at is this ATO call real?
- You have a registered tax agent. Agents have their own ATO lines and can often get a plan or remission done faster. A quick message to them may save you the wait.
What to do next
- Log in to myGov first and write down your balance and any overdue lodgements.
- Call 13 11 42 between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm on a weekday with your TFN or ABN ready.
- Ask about a payment plan and interest remission on the same call if you cannot pay in full.
Related questions
Is calling the ATO free?
Calls to 13 numbers cost the price of a local call from a landline and vary from mobiles depending on your plan. Calls to 1800 008 540 are free from landlines. The ATO also offers a call-back option at busy times so you do not have to hold; take it if offered, and keep your phone nearby because the return call will show No Caller ID.
What is the best time to call the ATO about a debt?
Lines are quietest early in the morning and mid-week, and busiest on Mondays, around lunchtime, and in the days before activity statement and tax return deadlines. Calling at 8:00 am on a Tuesday or Wednesday usually means a short wait. Avoid late October and late February if you can.
A message told me to call the ATO back on a 1300 number. Is that genuine?
It can be. The two payment support numbers listed above are the ATO's call-back lines, used when the ATO has already contacted you about a debt and asked you to phone back. Before you ring, check your ATO account in myGov for the debt and any recent letters. If you were not expecting contact, use the main debt line instead and ask the operator to confirm what is on your account. Never call back on a number that only appears in the message itself unless it matches the ATO's published list, and never give your TFN or myGov details to someone who called you.
Not sure who to call or what to ask?
Free, confidential help preparing for the call or having someone make it with you.
Get help nowMore questions: 11 Calls, texts, letters and scams questions answered · Full guide: ATO letters & notices