myGov is your portal to Australian government services. Setting it up properly saves time later.

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What Is myGov?

A single login to access multiple government services:

• ATO (Australian Taxation Office) — taxes
• Medicare (for some visa holders)
• Centrelink (if eligible)
• Child Support
• Various other services

Creating Your Account

Step 1: Go to my.gov.au

Navigate to the official website. Be careful of fake sites — only use my.gov.au.

Step 2: Create Account

Click "Create account" and provide:

• Email address
• Mobile number
• Password (strong, unique)
• Security questions

Step 3: Verify

Check your email and SMS for verification codes. Complete the process.

Step 4: Set Up Identity Strength

myGov uses "identity strength" levels. Higher strength = access more services.

Strengthen your identity:

• Link your passport
• Add ID documents
• Verify details

Linking Services

ATO (Most Important for Students)

What you can do:

• Lodge tax returns
• View your TFN
• Track super (superannuation)
• Update details

To link:

1. Login to myGov
2. Select "Link service" → ATO
3. Answer questions to verify identity
4. May need details from past tax or employer

Medicare

If eligible (some visa holders, including NZ citizens):

1. Apply for Medicare card at Medicare office
2. Link to myGov after receiving card
3. Track claims and appointments

Note: Most international students with OSHC can't get Medicare.

Using myGov App

Download the App

• iOS: myGov (green icon)
• Android: myGov

Benefits

• Quick access
• Biometric login (face/fingerprint)
• Document storage
• Notifications

Staying Secure

Do's

✓ Use a unique, strong password ✓ Enable two-factor authentication ✓ Keep recovery options updated ✓ Check linked services regularly

Don'ts

❌ Use public computers to log in ❌ Share your password ❌ Click links in emails claiming to be myGov ❌ Ignore login notifications you didn't initiate

Common Uses for Students

Track Super

See your superannuation balance from all jobs in one place.

Lodge Tax Return

At end of financial year (July), lodge your tax return here.

Update Details

Change your address or contact info for all linked services.

View Tax Notices

Any communications from ATO appear here.

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Tip: Bookmark the real my.gov.au URL. Scammers create fake sites that look identical. When in doubt, type the address directly.

What myGov actually gives you

myGov is the single sign-on for Australian government services. As an international student the services worth linking are:

• ATO - your TFN, income statements from every employer, tax return, and super accounts
• Medicare - only if you are from a country with a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, Slovenia)
• My Health Record - your prescriptions, test results and immunisation history
• Individual Healthcare Identifiers - occasionally needed for vaccination records

Most students only ever need the ATO link. Do that one properly and you can lodge your own tax return in under 20 minutes each July.

Linking the ATO: the part that goes wrong

To link the ATO you must answer two questions from your tax records. If you have never lodged a return and have no notice of assessment, use one of these instead:

• A bank account that has earned interest and been reported to the ATO (BSB, account number, and interest earned)
• A PAYG payment summary or income statement from an employer
• A superannuation account - fund name, member number, and ABN
• A Centrelink payment (rarely applicable to students)

If none of these work, call the ATO on 13 28 61 and ask for a linking code. It is valid for 24 hours and lets you complete the link without answering the questions. This single tip solves the most common myGov failure for new arrivals.

Security setup you should not skip

• Turn on the myGov Code Generator app rather than SMS codes. SMS breaks the moment you change Australian numbers.
• Record your myGov username - it is not your email address unless you set it to be.
• Set your sign-in options before you travel home for a break; recovering an account from overseas without a working Australian number is painful.
• The ATO and myGov never send a link asking you to log in and confirm details. Every message of that kind is phishing. Navigate to my.gov.au yourself.

Using it at tax time

Between 1 July and 31 October you lodge for the previous financial year. Employers report your income directly, so by mid-July your income statements normally appear pre-filled and marked "Tax ready". Wait for that status before lodging - lodging early with incomplete data creates an amendment.

Most part-time students earning under the tax-free threshold receive a full refund of the tax withheld. You still need to lodge, or lodge a non-lodgment advice if you earned nothing.

Leaving Australia

Before you leave permanently:

1. Lodge your final tax return (you can lodge early if you are departing).
2. Claim your superannuation through the DASP system - separate from myGov, at the ATO's departing Australia page.
3. Keep your myGov account active for at least a year in case of amendments.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need Medicare? Only if you are covered by a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement. Otherwise your OSHC is your health cover and there is nothing to link.

Can I have myGov without a TFN? Yes, but you cannot link the ATO service without one.

I have two myGov accounts by accident. Sign in to the one linked to the ATO and delete the other. Two active accounts cause verification failures.