Taxation Office identity theft warning

The commissioner of taxation has advised that tax file numbers (or TFNs) must be kept safe to reduce the possibility of identity theft.

Taxpayers should only supply their TFN to certain people, including the Tax Office, Centrelink, their super fund, bank or financial institution, and their employer.

The tax office has warned that if anyone asks a taxpayer for their TFN via email or phone call, they should not provide any information and should contact the Taxation Office on 13 28 61.

While the Taxation Office does contact taxpayers via email and SMSs to promote new services and notify of lodgement due dates, it will never request via these mediums for a taxpayers to disclose or confirm personal details such as their TFN, name, date of birth, address, passwords and bank account details.

If such information is required by the Taxation Office, a request will be mailed to the taxpayer’s postal address.