The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is encouraging businesses to register for the new myGovID.
The reminder comes with the ATO and 26 other government agencies discontinuing the use of the decade-old AUSkey and Manage ABNConnection login credentials by 27 March of this year. By this date existing users of ATO’s Business Portal and a range of other government online services will need to set up and use the new system.
A simple transition
The myGovID app can be downloaded on any smart device and uses modern security features such as fingerprint, face detection, or password setup to help keep personal and private information secure. Once the app is set up, the business owner will need to link their myGovID to their business using the authorisation service called Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM) and authorise employee access.
The business owner may also authorise employees or other users in the RAM to act on behalf of your business online. They will receive an email to accept the authorisation request using their myGovID.
“Small businesses and sole traders will need to set up and use myGovID & RAM if they use the ATO’s Business Portal,” ATO Chief Digital Officer, John Dardo, said. “After 27 March they will no longer be able to use AUSkey or Manage ABN Connections to access the Business Portal as those login credentials are being retired.”
Changes welcomed
Despite the challenges of the transition, Dardo is confident that most people will find that the new system will solve a lot of problems business owners had with AUSkey.
“We recently received positive feedback from small businesses about making the move from AUSkey to myGovID & RAM. We’re hearing the flexibility of myGovID is something they’ve long been waiting for”
“We’ve had over five million logins to the ATO Portals using myGovID so far and that’s because it’s simple, secure and flexible,” Dardo added. “We’ve developed a solution for employees who do not have the required identity documents and can’t set up their myGovID, for example, non-residents. It will be available in mid-March, allowing these users to make the move to myGovID then.”
