Before you can access the ATO Online Services for your business, you will need to setup access.  As an individual, you can access all your personal details with the ATO via your myGov login.  However, if you have a business in a different structure such as a partnership, trust or company then you first have to establish your authority to act on behalf of that entity before you can link up to ATO Online Services.  This is all done using myGovID.

myGovID is different to myGov and is an app that you download to your smartphone.  Once you create your myGovID it allows you to prove who you are so you can access a range of government online services.  To help you work through this process, we’ve provided some further details below…

STEP 1 – Set up you myGovID

• Download the myGovID app, available from the App Store or Google Play.
• For more information, visit mygovid.gov.au/set-up

STEP 2: Link your myGovID to your business using RAM (if you are the principal authority)

Once you have setup your myGovID, then you you need to link up all the different entities of which you are the principal authority. A principal authority might be a trustee, a director, a public officer, a partner or an office bearer of a club or association.  Essentially anyone with a legal authority to act on behalf of that entity.

You can link up these entities to your myGovID via the Relationship Authorisation Manager (or RAM).

• Log into the RAM using your myGovID
• Follow the instructions on How to link your business online here – https://info.authorisationmanager.gov.au/principal-authority

STEP 3: Log into ATO Online Services using your myGovID

Once you have linked up your business to your myGovID you will be able to log into ATO Online services for business as follows:

• Log into ATO Online Services for Business
• enter your myGovID email address and click Get code
• using your smartphone, you’ll need to log into your myGovID and enter the code on your screen
• select your business entity and click on Next

Now you can access all the details about this entity with the ATO.  You can see which entity you are accessing in the top right corner and if you have multiple entities, simply click on switch ABN to move between businesses/entities.