Tax Time 2026: How ATO protects your financial data
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Cyber fraud is not going to stop overnight. It will continue to become more sophisticated and pervasive as time goes on. Which means this third episode in the tax time 2026 series is even more relevant today as it focuses on fraud risks and how you can protect your financial data. With guest expertise from assistant commissioner in the ATO’s fraud and criminal behaviours business line, and hosted by CPA Australia’s tax...
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Tax Time 2026: Small business guide to ATO compliance
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New AML reforms and what they mean for accountants
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(This encore presentation episode was originally published on Dec 9, 2025) When anti-money laundering (AML) comes to mind, most accountants assume it only applies to large transactions – but that’s now changing. This episode explains . Specifically, how the reforms to AML and counter terrorism financing (CTF) in 2026 will affect many accounting practices. You’ll gain a clear understanding of what the changes will mean, including which services fall under the...
info_outlineCyber fraud is not going to stop overnight.
It will continue to become more sophisticated and pervasive as time goes on.
Which means this third episode in the tax time 2026 series is even more relevant today as it focuses on fraud risks and how you can protect your financial data.
With guest expertise from Jade Hawkins, assistant commissioner in the ATO’s fraud and criminal behaviours business line, and hosted by CPA Australia’s tax lead Jenny Wong, deep dive into the ATO’s counter-fraud program, emerging scam trends and the practical tools now available to strengthen digital security across the tax system ahead of tax time 2026.
Additionally, explore new features in the ATO app that give taxpayers more control over their accounts to the steps agents can take to protect their clients and their own practices from new threats.
In this episode, you will also gain expert information on:
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why identity theft and frauds are becoming more sophisticated
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what tax agents can do to protect clients and their own practices
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the most common fraud and cyber-attack techniques targeting the sector
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why strong myID settings and multifactor authentication matter
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how phishing, malware and credential stuffing attacks are evolving
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what happens when a taxpayer’s account is compromised.
Tune in now.
Host: Jenny Wong, tax lead, CPA Australia
Guest: Jade Hawkins, assistant commissioner in the ATO’s fraud and criminal behaviours business line
For more, head to CPA Australia’s tax time tools and resources page.
Additionally, you can head to the ATO website or download the ATO app.
The ATO also has online services and you can go on the ATO website to verify or report a scam or learn how to stay scam safe.
And you can phone the ATO on 1800 008 540.
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CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting:
INTHEBLACK Out Loud https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack-outloud
Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au
Chapters:
00:00 Fraud Prevention Urgency: ATO, Tax Agents and Evolving Scam Risks
00:22 Intro - Jenny Wong - Tax Time 2026
00:39 Jade Hawkins (ATO) on the Counter Fraud Program Overview
01:08 What Is the ATO Counter Fraud Program? $187M Investment Explained
01:17 Proactive Fraud Detection: Real-Time Data, Analytics and System Protections (ATO)
03:20 ATO App Security Updates: How Taxpayers Can Stay Safe with myID
03:30 Real-Time Alerts, Account Locking and Fraud Prevention via ATO App
04:01 Case Study: Stopping Tax Refund Fraud Using ATO App Notifications
05:49 ATO “Verify Call” Feature: Detecting Scam Calls and Social Engineering
06:14 ATO App Tools for Taxpayers: myDeductions, Pre-Fill Data, Refund Tracking
07:25 How Tax Agents Can Protect Clients: myID, ATO App and Fraud Awareness
08:21 Cybersecurity Best Practices: MFA, Strong Passphrases, Software Updates
10:23 ATO Resources and Training: Tax Fraud Hub and Cybersecurity Modules
11:03 Current Scam Trends: PII Data Breaches and Identity Theft Risks (ATO Insights)
11:40 Fraud Targeting Tax Agents: Phishing, Malware and Credential Stuffing
13:48 What Happens If a Taxpayer Is Compromised? ATO Safeguards Explained
15:54 Final Advice from Jade Hawkins: Vigilance, ATO App and Strong Access Controls
16:23 Conclusion: Tax Time 2026 Fraud Risks and Key Takeaways for Agents