Stay Alert: How to Spot and Avoid ATO Scams

Scams via email and SMS are on the rise, and what’s more concerning is how convincing they’ve become. In our industry, many of these scams come in the form of messages purporting to be the ATO and seeking additional information from you as a taxpayer.

Here are key things to remember if you receive a suspicious email or SMS:

Watch out for messages with links that prompt you to log in to government services like myGov/myID. The ATO has recently stopped including hyperlinks in unsolicited SMS messages. So, if you receive a message claiming to be from the ATO but it contains a link, it’s almost certainly a scam.

Always access ATO services directly by typing the web address yourself: ato.gov.au or my.gov.au, or via the ATO app.

Be cautious of emails asking for personal or financial information, especially if they claim to be urgent. The ATO will never request sensitive information such as passwords, account numbers, or personal details via email, SMS, or unsolicited phone calls.

Be wary of downloading attachments or clicking on links in emails, as they may contain malware that can steal your personal information.

If you’re ever in doubt, contact our office on 03 5571 0111. As your tax agent, we can verify whether any communication you’ve received from the ATO is legitimate and advise you if you think your security has been compromised.

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Making Electronic Signing Easier for You

By Cogger Gurry • August 29, 2025

We’re excited to share that we’ve upgraded our client signing experience—now powered by FuseSign! This intuitive, secure platform lets you sign documents in minutes (not days), straight from any device, and is simple to use. There’s no need to download apps or remember passwords - just click the link, review your documents, and sign. With industry-leading security and a smooth, hassle-free process, signing important documents has never been faster or easier. You can find out more about FuseSign Here

Understanding The 20% HECS-HELP Debt Reduction

By Cogger Gurry • August 29, 2025

As part of its re-election commitment, the Federal Government has passed legislation to reduce all outstanding HECS-HELP debts by 20%. The Bill passed the Senate on 31 July 2025 and will come into effect once it receives Royal Assent. The reduction will be applied retrospectively to student loan balances held as at 1 June 2025. While many borrowers have recently seen their loan balances increase due to the 3.2% annual indexation, the Government has confirmed that the 20% discount will be calculated based on the loan amount before indexation was applied. How the Reduction Will Work: Once the legislation is in effect, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will automatically apply the 20% reduction to eligible student loan accounts. Indexation will also be recalculated using the reduced loan balance, delivering further relief for borrowers. This change builds on previous reforms that now link indexation to the lower of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or Wage Price Index (WPI), rather than CPI alone, an approach designed to ease the financial pressure on graduates. Lodging Your Tax Return: If you’re getting ready to lodge your tax return, you don’t need to delay. The ATO will automatically apply the discount in the coming months. If you’ve fully repaid your student loan since 1 June 2025, you may be eligible for a refund equivalent to the 20% discount (subject to any other outstanding tax liabilities). Other Changes to Student Loan Repayments: The legislation also introduces changes to repayment thresholds. From 1 July 2025, the minimum income threshold for compulsory student loan repayments will increase from $54,435 to $67,000, making repayments more equitable. If you have any questions about how these changes may affect you or your tax return, please get in touch with CoggerGurry today, we’re here to help. Tel: 03 5571 0111

Division 296 Tax Update

By Cogger Gurry • August 29, 2025

Parliament has resumed, and we are watching closely for the introduction of the Division 296 tax Bill to the lower house. While the Government is managing a number of priorities, the extra time provides us with the opportunity to continue planning with clients who may be affected and to ensure we are ready when the legislation is finalised. Although no update has been given on whether the 1 July 2025 start date will be deferred, we’ll keep you informed as soon as there is more clarity. In the meantime, rest assured that we are monitoring developments carefully and will provide guidance and advice as soon as the position becomes clearer.