New ATO ‘Verify Call’ Feature: A Simple Way to Protect Yourself from Phone Scams

As tax time approaches, scam activity targeting Australian taxpayers continues to rise. Fraudsters impersonating the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) are becoming increasingly sophisticated, using fear and urgency to pressure individuals into providing personal information or making payments.

To help combat this growing problem, the ATO has introduced a new ‘Verify Call’ feature within the free ATO app. Released in early April 2026, the feature allows taxpayers to instantly confirm whether a phone call claiming to be from the ATO is genuine.

This new tool provides a fast, practical, and reliable way to protect yourself against impersonation scams.

How the ‘Verify Call’ feature works

If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to represent the ATO, you can verify the legitimacy of the call in less than 30 seconds:

1. Open the ATO app and log in.
2. Select the ‘Verify Call’ feature from the home screen.
3. A notification will appear confirming whether the caller is an authorised ATO representative.

If no confirmation appears, you should end the call immediately, as it is likely to be a scam.

This real-time verification system provides taxpayers with an additional layer of security at a time when impersonation scams remain one of the most common forms of fraud in Australia. The ATO reported receiving almost 7,500 scam reports in July 2025 alone, with activity typically increasing significantly between April and July each year.

Why this feature is important

Scam calls are designed to create panic and urgency. Common tactics include claims that:

• your tax file number has been compromised,
• you owe an urgent debt to the ATO, or
• immediate action is required to avoid penalties or legal consequences.

The new verification feature removes the uncertainty by allowing taxpayers to independently confirm whether the caller is legitimate before sharing any information. 

Strengthen your protection with myID

In addition to using the ATO app, taxpayers should ensure their myID digital identity is set to the highest security level available — known as ‘Strong’.

A stronger identity setting makes it significantly more difficult for unauthorised individuals to access your tax and superannuation information online.

Steps you can take now

To improve your protection before tax season:

• Download or update the ATO app via Apple App Store or Google Play.
• Register your device within the app.
• Review your myID settings and upgrade to ‘Strong’ identity strength if required.
• Familiarise yourself with the Verify Call feature before receiving an unexpected call.

These simple preventative measures can help avoid serious financial loss and administrative complications.

We’re here to help

The ATO’s new Verify Call feature is one of the most practical security enhancements introduced in recent years and provides taxpayers with a straightforward way to reduce the risk of scams.

If you are unsure about a phone call, email, or message claiming to be from the ATO, contact us before responding. We can help verify whether the communication is legitimate through official channels.

If you need assistance setting up the ATO app or reviewing your security settings, please reach out to the Bates Cosgrave team. We are here to help you stay secure and confident this tax season.