In a public update, the ATO said it has identified some registered and unregistered tax agents using taxpayers’ personal login details to access their ATO online account through myGov to lodge tax returns on behalf of their clients.
“MyTax is not an approved lodgement channel for registered agents and is a breach of the ATO online terms and conditions,” the ATO said.
“We will be closely monitoring returns and utilising all of our data-matching and collection tools in an effort to identify suspicious patterns of behaviour with lodgements. We will seek to identify patterns of behaviour that suggest the use of myGov by unregistered preparers.”
The ATO said that online services for agents should be used for managing a client’s tax affairs.
“Agents may risk referral to the Tax Practitioners Board if they are discovered using myGov to lodge on behalf of their clients, or without their clients’ knowledge,” it said.
“If you are concerned about the conduct of a tax professional, you should submit a complaint with the Tax Practitioners Board.”
At the ATO forum last year when the MYGOV use was advised Tax Agents were up in arms about exactly this issue. The ATO were warned this would be an issue.
There was a dodgy firm in Cairns that had an even dodgier owner, with few scruples and even less morals, that allegedly did this until they disappeared off the face of the map owing employees holiday pay and a year of superannuation. Without mentioning names, if you watched the Griswalds or the Grimsley brothers movies, you may know the reference. Anyone in this category should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law in all areas.