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Medicare & Other·14 July 2025·3 min read

What is the ATO and what does it do?

The ATO is the Australian Taxation Office, the government agency responsible for collecting taxes. Here is what it does and when you will deal with it.

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Quick answer

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is the federal government agency responsible for administering Australia's tax system.

What does the ATO do?

The ATO is responsible for:

  • Collecting income tax, GST, and other federal taxes
  • Issuing Tax File Numbers (TFNs)
  • Issuing Australian Business Numbers (ABNs) through the Australian Business Register
  • Receiving employer wage and PAYG withholding reports
  • Processing tax returns
  • Managing the superannuation guarantee on behalf of workers
  • Investigating tax compliance and recovery
  • Operating the DASP (Departing Australia Superannuation Payment) system

For working holiday makers, the most relevant ATO functions are TFN issuance, tax return processing, and DASP super withdrawal.

How does the ATO get information about you?

The ATO receives data about you automatically:

  • Your employers report your wages and PAYG tax through their payroll software (Single Touch Payroll)
  • Your super fund reports contributions made on your behalf
  • Banks report interest paid on Australian accounts
  • Share registries report dividends paid

When we lodge your tax return, we cross-check the data the ATO already has against what your records show. The ATO usually has accurate information, but discrepancies happen and need to be resolved before lodgment.

When might the ATO contact you?

Most working holiday makers never receive direct ATO contact. The ATO might reach out if:

  • Additional information is needed to process your return
  • A discrepancy is identified between what you reported and employer reports
  • You owe tax that has not been paid
  • A review or audit is initiated (rare for working holiday makers)
  • A refund is held up due to identity verification

All legitimate ATO communications are either through your registered tax agent or by post to your registered address. The ATO will never call demanding immediate payment, requesting payment in gift cards, or threatening arrest. These calls are scams, and they target working holiday makers specifically. Hang up and contact our team if you receive one.

How does our team handle ATO communication?

When you work with us:

  • All ATO communication comes to us first
  • We translate any issues into plain language
  • We respond on your behalf
  • We handle disputes, amendments, and follow-ups
  • You do not need to call the ATO, log into ATO online services, or deal with paperwork yourself

This works even after you leave Australia. We have helped working holiday makers resolve ATO matters from every continent.

What is the ATO's role in DASP super withdrawals?

When you claim your super through DASP:

  • We lodge the application through our tax agent portal
  • The ATO verifies your visa status
  • The application is forwarded to your super fund
  • The fund (or ATO, if the balance was transferred) releases the payment

If your super was held by the ATO as unclaimed super, the ATO pays you directly. Either way, our team manages the process end-to-end so you receive every dollar without dealing with the ATO yourself. Get in touch to start your DASP application.

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