It wasn’t me: the tax fraud scam

Clarke McEwan Accountants

It wasn’t me: the tax fraud scam

You login to your myGov account to find that your activity statements for the last 12 months have been amended and GST credits of $100k issued. But it wasn’t you. And you certainly didn’t get a $100k refund in your bank account. What happens now?

In what is rapidly becoming the most common tax scam, myGov accounts are being accessed for their rich source of personal data, bank accounts changed, and personal data used to generate up to hundreds of thousands in fraudulent refunds. For all intents and purposes, it is you, or at least that’s what it seems. And, the worst part is, you probably gave the scammers access to your account.

But it’s not just activity statements. Any myGov linked service that has the capacity to issue refunds or payments is being targeted. Scammers are using the amendment periods available in the tax law to adjust existing data and trigger refunds on personal income tax, goods and services tax (GST), and through variations to pay as you go (PAYG) instalments. In some cases, the level of sophistication and knowledge of how Australia’s tax and social security system operates is next level.

Once the scammers have access to your myGov account, there is a lot of damage they can do.

So, how does this happen and why is it so pervasive? Humans are often the weakest link.

Common scams utilise emails (78.9% of reported tax related scams in the last 12 months) or SMS (18.4% of reported scams) that mimic communication you might normally expect to see. The lines of attack used by tax related scammers are commonly:

Fake warnings about attempted attacks on your account (and requiring you to click on the link and confirm your details);
Opportunistic baiting where some form of reward is flagged, like a tax refund, that you need to click on the link to confirm and access; and
Mimicking common administrative notifications from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) like a new message accessible from a link.
Approximately 75% of all email scams reported to the ATO to March 2024 were linked to a fake myGov sign in page.

How to spot a fake

Often the first sign that something is amiss is alerts about activity on your myGov account or a change in details - which might seem a little ironic if the way in which scammers got into your account in the first place is via these very same messages. But, there are ways to spot a fake:

The ATO, Centrelink and MyGov don’t use hyperlinks in messages. If you receive a message with a link, it’s a fake.
The ATO will not use QR codes as a method for you to access your account.
The ATO will never ask for your tax file number (TFN), bank account details or your myGov login details over social media. Some scammers have used fake social media accounts mimicking the ATO and other Government agencies. When a query comes in, they respond by asking for information to verify it’s you. The ATO will never slide into your DMs. ATO Assistant Commissioner Tim Loh said, “it’s like giving your house keys to a stranger and watching them change your locks.”
The ATO do not use pre-recorded messages to alert you to outstanding tax debt.
The ATO will not cancel your TFN. Some scammers suggest that your TFN has been cancelled or suspended due to criminal activity or money laundering and then tell you to either pay a fee to correct it, or transfer your money to a ‘safe’ bank account to protect you against your corrupted TFN.
The ATO will not initiate a conference call between you and your tax agent and someone from a law enforcement agency. In one case, the taxpayer was told that the caller was from the ATO and a person from her accounting firm was on the call as well to represent her and work through a problem. The ATO caller and the tax agent were fake. Just hang up and call our office if you are ever concerned. The ATO will never initiate a conference call of this type.
The ATO will also not ask you to reconfirm your details because of security updates to myGov. The link, when activated, takes you to a fake myGov web page that can look very convincing.

In general, you should always log into your myGov account directly to check on any details alerted in messages rather than clicking on links. This way, you know that you are not being redirected to somewhere you should not be.

And, don’t log into your myGov account on free wifi networks. Ever.

Who is getting scammed?

There is a pervasive view that older, technology challenged individuals are the most at risk. And while this might be the case generally, scamming is impacting all age groups.

The ATO says that the demographic who most reported providing personal information to scammers was 25 to 34 year olds. And, the younger generation are more likely to fall for investment scams. According to the AFP-led Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre (JPC3), people under the age of 50 are overtaking older Australians as the most reported victims of investment scams. Australians reported losing $382 million to investment scams in the 2023-24 financial year. Nearly half (47%) of the investment scam losses involved cryptocurrency.

Other scams

Scammers are in the business of scamming and they will use every trick and opportunity to part you from your money.

Investment scams.

Pig butchering. Pig butchering is a tactic where scammers devote weeks or months to building a close relationship with their victims on social media or messaging apps, before encouraging them to invest in the share market, cryptocurrency, or foreign currency exchanges. Victims think they are trading on legitimate platforms, but the money is siphoned into an account owned by the scammers, who created fake platforms that look identical to well-known trading and cryptocurrency sites. Scammers will show fake returns on these platforms to convince victims to invest more money. Once they have extracted as much money as possible, the scammers disappear with all the invested funds.

Deepfakes. Deepfakes are lifelike impersonations of real people created by artificial intelligence technologies. Scammers create video ads, images and news articles of celebrities and other trusted public figures to promote fake investment schemes, which can appear on social media feeds or be sent by scammers through messaging apps. Unusual pauses, odd pitches, or facial movement not matching their speaking tone are often giveaways but increasingly, the fakes are difficult to spot.

Invoice scams

The names and details of legitimate businesses are used to issue fake invoices with the money transferred to the scammer’s account. These scams are often tied to cyber breachers where hackers have accessed your systems and have identified your suppliers.

Bank scams

There has been a lot in the media of late about people receiving phone calls purporting to be from their bank, advising them there is a problem with their account, and then walking them through a resolution that involves transferring all their money into a ‘safe’ scammers account. Victims commonly state that they believed the scammer because of the level of personal information they relayed.

Your bank will never send an email or text message asking for any account or financial details, this includes updating your address or log in details for phone, mobile or internet banking.

A CHOICE survey found that four out of five of the victims of banking scams in their report said their banks did nothing to flag a scam before they transferred their money to the perpetrator.

The Australian Banking Association have stated that, if not already, banks will introduce warnings and payment delays by the end of 2024. And, in addition to other measures, they will limit payments to high-risk channels such as crypto platforms.

What to do if you have been scammed

MyGov

If you have downloaded a fake myGov app, have given your details to a scammer, or clicked on a link from an email, text message or scanned a QR Code, contact Services Australia Scams and Identify Theft Helpdesk on 1800 941 126, or get help with a scam here.

Tax scams

Before acting on any instructions, please contact us and we will verify the information for you.

If you have already acted, contact the ATO to verify or report a scam on 1800 008 540.

The Government use external agency recoveriescorp for debt collection but we will advise you if you have a tax debt outstanding.

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Reviewing your fund’s investment strategy

By Clarke McEwan • October 21, 2026

Superannuation law requires trustees of SMSFs to formulate, regularly review and give effect to an investment strategy that has regard to the whole of the circumstances of the fund. Although there is nothing in the law stating a timeframe that may define ‘review regularly’, it is commonly accepted that this would be at least annually. This aligns with comments on the ATO’s website where they expect reviews to occur at least annually. Some trustees will undertake an annual review leading up to, or at the beginning of a new financial year, while others will undertake the review as part of reviewing the completed financial accounts from the previous financial year. Neither is the right or wrong option, and you must consider what is best for your situation. Either way, you will need to be able to show your fund’s auditor that you have reviewed the investment strategy and documented any decisions made, whether it be recording changes deemed necessary or determined the existing strategy remains appropriate. There may be other times that it is appropriate to review the investment strategy. These may include when: There is a market correction; A member joins or leaves the fund; A member starts a pension in the fund. An investment policy will generally be comprised of two parts: 1. Investment objective – this part outlines the fund’s objectives and expected outcomes. For example, an objective may be to achieve a certain level of return over a certain period. This would generally take into account the age of the members, their retirement needs and investment risk profile. 2. Investment strategy – this part outlines how the fund will achieve the stated objectives. For example, it may include investment asset ranges or specific assets that will be held. When reviewing your fund’s investment strategy, consideration must be given to: The risk of holding particular investments and their returns, with regards to the fund’s objectives and expected cashflow requirements; Composition of investments and the risk of inadequate diversification; Liquidity of investments, with regards to expected cashflow requirements; Ability to discharge existing and prospective liabilities; and Whether insurance cover for one or more members should be held by the fund. Although these points need to be considered, it is up to the trustees to determine how they are applied, based on the circumstances of the fund. As an example, you must consider the diversification of the fund’s assets, but that does not mean you are required to have a diversified investment strategy. Many funds hold just a property and a bank account, and this may be appropriate for those funds. However, the trustees should document what consideration they gave to diversification, why the lack of diversification is appropriate and why they have chosen these particular assets. Likewise, there is no legal requirement to hold insurance cover for the members, but you do need to document that it has been considered. As noted above, a member starting a pension may be reason to review the fund’s investment strategy. This is due to the fact that this is likely to change the liquidity considerations and investment profile of the fund. When members are all in the pre-retirement growth phase, expenses are usually more predictable and there isn’t a need for many funds to hold large cash reserves. Once members reach the point they are accessing their benefits, as either pension or lump sum payments (or both), cashflow, liquidity and a potential cash buffer become a more important consideration. It is not uncommon that leading up to the end of any given financial year we will field enquiries and concerns from trustees that do not have the cash to satisfy even the minimum pension requirements for the year. While there may be several reasons for this, it should raise questions about the appropriateness of the fund’s current investment strategy and considerations as to whether a review of the asset holdings is warranted. If we revisit the one property and one bank account funds mentioned early, this may have been a reasonable strategy during the growth phase, but does it remain so during the drawdown phase? Although many people are comfortable with property and Australian investors in general have an affinity for the old bricks and mortar, this does not mean it is an appropriate investment in all circumstances. If the rental income from the property cannot support your retirement needs and minimum pension withdrawal requirements, something needs to change. This will hold true for any other investment that may not be easily sold, such as holdings in unlisted companies and trusts. Reviewing your fund’s investment strategy and giving consideration to the needs of the members and the asset holdings of the fund should not be seen as just a tick-a-box legal requirement. You’ve worked hard to build you retirement wealth and when the time comes, you want to be able to enjoy it. Having an appropriate investment strategy that will allow this is an important element of running an SMSF. Have you reviewed your strategy lately?

“Widow tax” fixed

By Clarke McEwan • October 21, 2026

Federal Parliament has closed an unintended loophole in the recent negative gearing and capital gains tax reforms that became widely known as the “widow tax”. At the same time, the Government also fixed a technical issue that could have affected people who first use a main residence to generate rental income after Budget night on 12 May 2026. What the problem was As you might be aware, the tax rules have recently been changed to ensure that losses generated from residential rental properties from 1 July 2027 can be ‘quarantined’. This means that they can only be offset against income or capital gains generated from other residential rental properties. However, the changes won’t generally apply to properties that were purchased by the relevant taxpayer before 12 May 2026. However, a problem could arise when an ownership interest in a property passes to someone as a result of the death of the original owner or because of a relationship breakdown and this occurs after 12 May 2026. Under the original version of the new rules, that transfer could be treated as a new acquisition. This could have meant that a surviving spouse or former partner risked losing the protected negative gearing treatment that had applied to the property in the hands of the previous owner. How it was fixed The Government moved quickly once the issue was identified. Some new rules now specifically protect people who acquire a residential property interest from a spouse because of death or relationship breakdown. The rules can also potentially protect someone who inherits an additional ownership interest in a rental property from a co-owner who isn’t their spouse. Case study 1 – the widow tax fix Sarah and David bought a rental unit in 2019 as equal joint owners. The property has always been negatively geared, with annual rental losses of around $8,000 offset against their other income each year. Under the original May 2026 reforms, the property was protected because it was acquired well before Budget night. However, if David had died and the property transferred fully into Sarah’s name, the additional 50% interest that Sarah inherited from David’s estate risked being treated as a new acquisition. Sarah could have lost the ability to claim the losses generated from this interest in the property against her other income. With the updated rules now in place, that outcome is avoided. Because the transfer occurs due to the death of a spouse, Sarah keeps the original protected treatment and can continue offsetting the rental losses in the same way as before. Former main residences A related technical issue also needed fixing. Under the original rules there was a risk that an existing main residence purchased before 12 May 2026 could lose its protected status if it was later first used to generate taxable rental income after that date. This was because of the interaction with a long-standing tax rule that can treat someone as if they had reacquired a former main residence when it is first used to produce income. The Government has now passed legislation to correct this. The new rules specifically disregard that “first use to produce income” rule when determining the acquisition date for negative gearing purposes. Case study 2 – renting out a former home James bought his home in 2018 and has lived in it as his main residence ever since. In 2027 he decides to move in with his partner and rent the property out for the first time. Under the original drafting of the 2026 reforms, first renting the property after 12 May 2026 risked resetting its acquisition date. That could have caused the property to be treated as a post-Budget night acquisition and subjected to the tighter negative gearing limits. With the new rules now in place, that reset is disregarded for negative gearing purposes. Because James originally acquired the property before 7:30 pm on 12 May 2026, it keeps its original acquisition date. He can continue to offset any rental losses in the same way as if the property had always been an investment property acquired before Budget night. Why these fixes matter Both changes remove sources of unexpected cash-flow disruption. The “widow tax” fix protects people at a difficult personal time. The main residence clarification gives homeowners greater flexibility if their circumstances change and they later decide to rent out a property they already own. What you should do now If you own a jointly held investment property acquired before 12 May 2026, the “widow tax” fix provides reassurance that a future transfer on death or separation should not remove negative gearing rights, but the rules are still complex and it is always best to have the position checked. If you own a main residence bought before 12 May 2026 and are considering renting it out in future, the new rule means the property should keep its original acquisition date for negative gearing purposes, but there could still be some complex CGT implications. Keep clear records of the original purchase date and ownership history. If either situation applies to you and you would like confirmation of how the amended rules work in your circumstances, contact us.

$21 billion in lost super is waiting

By Clarke McEwan • October 21, 2026

More than $21 billion in lost and unclaimed superannuation is currently sitting idle across Australia, according to the latest ATO figures. The average lost account holds around $41,000. Last year alone the ATO reunited more than $1.1 billion with members. That is real money that could be working harder for your retirement. Tax time is the natural moment to check whether any of it belongs to you. How super becomes “lost” Super generally becomes lost when an account becomes inactive and the fund can no longer contact the member. Common triggers include: Changing jobs and leaving an old account behind Moving house or updating your phone number without telling the fund Changing your name When the fund cannot reach you, the account may be classified as lost. In some cases, the balance is eventually transferred to the ATO to hold until the rightful owner claims it. The money does not disappear; it simply sits waiting to be reunited with its owner. A five-minute health check Finding lost super is straightforward and free. The quickest way is through ATO online services via myGov: 1. Log in to myGov and open the ATO section. 2. Select Super, then Fund details. 3. You will see any active accounts plus any lost or ATO-held super linked to your tax file number. You can also use the ATO app or call the automated lost super search line on 13 28 65. A paper form is available if you prefer. Many people are surprised by what turns up from old accounts from early jobs, small balances that have grown over time, or larger amounts they had completely forgotten about. Especially valuable if you are approaching retirement For clients still decades from retirement, finding lost super is useful. For those at or approaching retirement age it can be particularly meaningful. An extra $20,000 or $40,000 (or more) can make a noticeable difference to the size of the nest egg available to draw on. Even smaller amounts compound further once consolidated into a single active account that continues to earn returns and attract any future contributions. One important practical warning before you consolidate If you decide to roll multiple accounts into one preferred fund, check the insurance cover attached to each account first. Death, total and permanent disability, or income-protection cover that comes with a super account can sometimes end when the balance is rolled over. Losing that cover without realising it can leave a gap in your protection at the exact time you may need it most. Speak with your fund or adviser before consolidating so you understand exactly what will transfer and what will not. The commercial upside is simple Every dollar sitting in a lost or low-balance account is potentially earning less than it could, or incurring unnecessary fees. Bringing the money into one active account usually reduces fees, improves investment choice, and makes it easier to keep track of your overall position. The ATO’s reunification figures show that when people do the search, meaningful amounts are regularly returned. The process takes only a few minutes and costs nothing. Given that more than $21 billion is currently waiting to be claimed, the odds that some of it belongs to you are higher than many people expect. You can start the free search here: https://www.ato.gov.au/forms-and-instructions/superannuation-searching-for-lost-superannuation If you would like help interpreting what you find, or advice on whether consolidation makes sense in your circumstances (including the insurance check), just get in touch. A short conversation now can put money back into your retirement savings that might otherwise stay forgotten.

Travel records under the microscope

By Clarke McEwan • October 21, 2026

Travel records under the ATO microscope

Should You Buy or Lease Your Business Premises?

By Clarke McEwan • October 7, 2026

Owning your business premises can build long-term wealth and eliminate rent increases. Leasing can offer greater flexibility and preserve cash flow. Every business is different. Let us help you analyse the costs and benefits so you can make the right decision. 📞 Get in touch today.

Should you buy or lease your business assets?

By Clarke McEwan • September 18, 2026

There are certain items of equipment, machinery and hardware that are essential to the operation of your business – whether it’s the delivery van you use to run your client deliveries, diagnostic equipment in your medical practice or the high-end digital printer to run your print business. But when a critical business asset is required, should you buy this item outright, or should you lease the item and pay for it in handy monthly instalments? To buy or to lease? That is the question Buying new pieces of business equipment, plant, machinery or vehicles can be an expensive investment. So, depending on your financial situation, it’s important to weigh up the pros and cons of buying, or opting for a leasing option. First of all, let’s look at why you might decide to buy the item… Buying: the pros and cons: - Pro: It’s a tangible asset – when you buy an item, you own the item outright and it will appear on your balance sheet as one your business assets. As such, by owning these assets outright you increase the perceived capital and value of your business. You can also claim the cost of the asset against your capital allowance for tax purposes. - Pro: It’s yours for the life of the asset – once you own the item, you have full use of the equipment for the duration of the life of the asset. Your use of the asset isn’t reliant on you being able to keep up regular lease payments, and if your financial circumstances change then you can sell the asset to free up the capital. - Con: It’s an expensive outlay – paying for the item up-front is a large outlay for the business and will require you having the cash to cover this cost. Spending a large lump sum in this way may take cash away from other areas of the business, so you need to be 100% sure that this purchase is the right decision and a sound investment. - Con: You may require extra funding – if you don’t have the liquid cash available to buy the item outright, you may need to take out a loan. Asset finance is available from funding providers, but does tie you into a loan agreement that will add to your liabilities as a business – reducing your worth on the balance sheet. Leasing: the pros and cons: - Pro: Leasing has a cheaper entry point – if the item you need to purchase has a large price tag, leasing allows you to make use of the asset without the cost of buying it in full. For start-ups and smaller businesses with minimal capital behind them, this can make leasing a very attractive option. You may not own the asset, but you can make use of it – and this may be the difference between the success or failure of your business. - Pro: You can spread the cost – there is still an associated cost of leasing, but you can spread the cost over a longer period, making it easier to find the necessary liquid cash to meet your lease payments. With this money saved, you can then invest in other areas of the business, helping you to expand, grow and bring in more customers and revenue. - Con: You don’t own the asset – there are different types of leasing agreement. Under a capital lease, you do own the asset (once you’ve paid if off). But if you opt for an operating lease, this is a more short-term lease and you won’t own the asset at the end of the contract. Ownership does have its advantages (including being able to sell off the asset if required) so it’s important to consider what kind of leasing agreement you’re entering into and what the advantages/disadvantages may be. - Con: You may pay more in the long run – most leasing agreements will attract additional costs and interest on your agreement, so you may well end up paying more than the market price for your asset in the long term. If you can cope with the higher cost, this is fine, but bear in mind that buying outright may have offered greater value. - Con: You may lose the use of the asset – if you can’t keep up your lease payments (due to poor cashflow for example) then the owner of the lease agreement may recall the asset. If this item is crucial to your business model, losing this key asset can have a profound impact on your ability to operate. In this respect, leasing is a more risky prospect, but also an easier option for businesses with less cash to splash.Talk to us about whether buying or leasing is the best way forward. Whether you opt to buy or lease your equipment isn’t always a straightforward decision to make – so it’s a good idea to consult with your accountant early on in the decision-making process. We’ll help you review your current financial position, assess your available cashflow and look at your regular cost base to decide whether buying or leasing is the right thing for your business.