ATO Client to Agent Linking - Aintree Group Chartered Accountants

Client to Agent Linking is specific to new clients and entities, not existing ones.

As of November 2023, the ATO introduced ATO Client to Agent Linking to protect taxpayers’ information and limit who has access to it.

If you’re onboarding with Aintree Group, you will need to nominate us as your tax agent through Online Services for Business so that we can access your information and complete work on your behalf.

If you are just a sole trader or individual, you are not required to complete this process. Aintree Group will be able to add you to our ATO portal, provided you have given us consent.

If you have any entities such as a trust, company, partnership or self managed superannuation fund, you will need to complete the ATO Agent Linking process. If your entity has an Australian Business Number (ABN), you will be able to proceed with the steps we will show you shortly.

For troubleshooting and FAQs, please scroll down.

For a step-by-step guide to the ATO Agent Linking process, please watch the video below:

There are the five steps to complete:

Set up myID.
Link your myID to your ABN using the Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM).
Log in to Online Services for Business with your myID.
Nominate Aintree Group as your authorised agent in Online Services for Business.
Let us know we’ve been nominated so we can accept it.

1. Set up myID (if you haven’t already).

Download the myID app on your smart phone.
Enter in your personal email, full legal name and date of birth.
Make sure you have a strong strength ID – upload at least two Australian identity documents and enable face ID.

2. Link your myID to your ABN.

You’ll need to link your myID, to the Australian business number (ABN) of your entities using Relationship Authorisation Manager, or RAM. This is using the myID account you setup in step 1.

To link your business, you will need to:

Log in to RAM.
Select Link my business and select the checkbox to provide your express consent. Then, select Continue.
Add your personal postal or residential address (as held by the ATO) and select Continue.
Select the business or businesses you want to link and select Continue.
Enter an email address and select Send email to receive a verification code.
Enter the verification code and select Verify and Continue.
Review the summary of the selected business or businesses – select the checkboxes to declare you understand and accept and provide your express consent, then select Submit.
A message will display confirming your business is successfully linked – you can then add another business or Continue.

For trusts and partnerships that only have an ABN, an Associate or an ATO recorded principal authority is the only person who can link the businesses ABN with their myID.

Note: A principal authority is someone who is responsible for the business and listed on the Australian Business Register.

If your trust has a company as the corporate trustee, that entity will be the associate listed. Therefore, you will not be able to proceed with the next steps, and you’ll need to call the ATO to nominate yourself as the principal authority.

3. Log in to Online Services for Business.

Go to https://onlineservices.ato.gov.au/business/
Click Continue with Digital ID and log in using the myID account you setup in step 1.
If you have multiple entities linked: Use the drop down bar to select the business you want to nominate an agent for. You will need to switch between businesses if you are linking multiple businesses, once you completed each nomination.

4. Nominate your authorised agent.

From the Online Services for Business home page:

Select Profile, then Agent details
At the Agent nominations feature, select Add
On the Nominate agent screen, go to Search for agent
Type in our registered agent number and select Search
- Aintree Group Tax Agent Number: 25919644
Select us as the agent you want to nominate
- Aintree Group Tax Agent Name: Aintree Group Pty Ltd
Check that the agent’s details are correct
- Ensure we have access to all accounts, including your Income Tax Account and Activity Statement Account.
Complete the Declaration
Select Submit.

Once completed you will need to advise your Aintree Group Advisor that the ATO agent linking has been completed.

5. Let us know we’ve been nominated so we can accept it.

Your tax agent can only accept the nomination within 7 days so please make sure you tell them straight away.

Please note that in order for Aintree Group to access all your accounts, we will need both the entities TFNs and ABNs (if applicable).

For further assistance, please reach out to your Aintree Group advisor.

Troubleshooting & FAQs

If you can’t get a myID or don’t have an ABN:

If you can’t get a myID or if your business doesn’t have an ABN, you will need to speak with an ATO customer service representative on 13 28 69.

What if I can’t achieve a strong strength ID (for myID)?

A strong strength ID is required to link your business online in RAM and complete the ATO agent linking process.

If you cannot achieve this, you will need to call the ATO Switchboard on 13 28 69.

What is a Principal Authority?

A principal authority is someone who is responsible for the business and listed on the Australian Business Register.

This can include anyone who is an associate of your entity:

Company
> Directors
> Public officer
> Company shareholders (if applicable)

Trust
> Trustees (individual or company)

SMSFs
> Members
> Individual and corporate trustees
> Directors
> Legal personal representatives

Partnerships
> Partners

Learn more.

“I don’t know who the Principal Authority is for our entity.”

If you’re unsure who the principal authority is, you will need to call the ATO on 13 28 69.

They will run verification checks to establish your identity and relationship to the entity, and they can check to see if you’re nominated as the principal authority. If not, you can ask them to add you.

Note: If you only have one associate linked to your entity, they will most likely be the principal authority.

What if I have a corporate trustee?

If your trust is managed by a corporate trustee, there won’t be an individual listed as the associate (that is, no individual linked to the trust with a TFN). In this case, you’ll need to nominate someone to act as the principal authority for the trust.

This can be completed by ringing the ATO and asking them to change it.

How do I change the principal authority or nominate someone?

You can only change the principal authority if you’re already nominated. This means you’re listed on the Australian Business Register as an associate.

If you’d like to nominate someone else to have authority, you will need to:

> Log in to RAM.
> Select View or manage authorisations, machine credentials and cloud software notifications.
> Select the business you would like to add an authorisation to.
> Select Add new user and follow the prompts to complete the authorisation request.

Source: ATO

What if my entity only has a TFN (not an ABN)?

If your entity only has a Tax File Number (TFN), you will not be able to proceed with the ATO Agent Linking steps noted above and you will need to contact the ATO on 13 28 69 for assistance.

What to prepare for a call with the ATO

If you need to call the ATO, ensure you have all your ID documents with you. At no point is anyone who is with you allowed to answer the ATO’s questions on your behalf, as it interferes with their ID verification process.

Docs or information they may ask for:

> Full legal name, DOB, TFN.
> ATO issued notice
> Details from a tax return
> Details from accounts you hold with us such as payment or refund amounts
> Information related to your interactions with us.
> Details of your employment, superannuation or investments you hold.
> Medicare card, passport, driver licence.
> TFN and/or ABN of all entities that you are wanting to nominate your tax agent to act on behalf of.

Source used: ATO