I am an Australian citizen who has lived in the UK for the last 30+ years but have a CSS super fund from when I was a public servant in Australia. I am retiring in January and will access my CSS super in the UK. I have a myGov account, I have verified my Australian identity, I know my tax file number but it is impossible for me to link to the ATO as I only have one of the necessary links - my CSS super details. I know the address in Australia I lived in when when I last filed a tax return and permanently left the country. I have an Australian bank account (recently set up to receive my pension with my UK address) but this is not known to the ATO. I rang somebody at the ATO to get a link code, but they also needed 2 of the same documents that is required online. How do I resolve this?
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Hi @lorraine_d,
There's pretty tight security measures to set up an ATO online link because we don't want accounts being activated without thorough identity checks. For now, the ID check and answer to 2 questions needs to be met. The other option is to set up a myGovID with a strong identity strength which requires 2 specific ID documents to be verified.
What were you looking to do with the online access? We'd like to help with other avenues to reach the same outcome if the online linking can't be done?
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Hi @lorraine_d,
There's pretty tight security measures to set up an ATO online link because we don't want accounts being activated without thorough identity checks. For now, the ID check and answer to 2 questions needs to be met. The other option is to set up a myGovID with a strong identity strength which requires 2 specific ID documents to be verified.
What were you looking to do with the online access? We'd like to help with other avenues to reach the same outcome if the online linking can't be done?
I have already set up a strong identity strength on myGovID and even with that I need to still answer 2 questions so that is not the issue and that was done before contacting the ATO. It is impossible for me to do this since I have not been resident for 32 years. Prior to that I worked in Australia for 16 years. I know my TFN, I know my address when I left Australia permanently however the only information I can provide on your list is my CSS super scheme number. I have no medicare card, I have no centrelink number, I have no current bank account which the ATO will recognise (I now do have an Australian bank account registered at my UK address so that I can receive my superannuation but that will not be known to the ATO) .
I will start receiving my Australian super in January when I retire and I will have to submit an Australian tax return and claim back the withholding that happens in Australia as a non-tax resident under Article 17 of the UK/Australia DTA (as I am a tax resident of the UK).
Initially I needed to fill in a tax file declaration form for my super scheme which I could not do electronically as I couldn't link to the ATO. The tax office ended up sending a paper version to me in the UK which took 6 weeks to arrive. But going forward I need to be able to link to the ATO to file a tax return. I also need to update my contact details with the ATO.
Any help in resolving this would be much appreciated.
Hi @RachATO
I have already set up a strong identity strength on myGovID and even with that I need to still answer 2 questions so that is not the issue and that was done before contacting the ATO. It is impossible for me to do this since I have not been resident for 32 years. Prior to that I worked in Australia for 16 years. I know my TFN, I know my address when I left Australia permanently however the only information I can provide on your list is my CSS super scheme number. I have no medicare card, I have no centrelink number, I have no current bank account which the ATO will recognise (I now do have an Australian bank account registered at my UK address so that I can receive my superannuation but that will not be known to the ATO) .
I will start receiving my Australian super in January when I retire and I will have to submit an Australian tax return and claim back the withholding that happens in Australia as a non-tax resident under Article 17 of the UK/Australia DTA (as I am a tax resident of the UK).
Initially I needed to fill in a tax file declaration form for my super scheme which I could not do electronically as I couldn't link to the ATO. The tax office ended up sending a paper version to me in the UK which took 6 weeks to arrive. But going forward I need to be able to link to the ATO to file a tax return. I also need to update my contact details with the ATO.
Any help in resolving this would be much appreciated.
Hi @lorraine_d,
Yes, it can be tricky accessing online services when you're no longer a resident with the required info to link.
You may need help from us to link and you can do this by reaching out to us on our overseas enquiries line.
If you still can't access online services, then you have 2 other options to lodge tax returns when you need to. This is by using the paper form or have a registered tax agent lodge on your behalf.
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