The Tax Practitioners Board has issued a warning to taxpayers about the risk of using unregistered tax agents.
It says there have been a number of cases of agents posing as legitimate registered tax practitioners who lodge returns on behalf of clients, often by accessing their myGov accounts and lodging through myTax.
The TPB says taxpayers should not be charged by anyone to lodge or prepare a tax return through their myGove account.
The TPB says 37 cases are currently under investigation.
TPB chief executive Michael O’Neill says unregistered agents often win business by telling people they can arrange unrealistically large refunds.
“Using an unregistered tax practitioner means you are not covered by safe harbour provisions that offer protection from penalties, such as when a registered tax practitioner fails to lodge on time or makes a false or misleading statement on your return,” O’Neill says.
“We urge people not to share their personal myGov password with anyone and if they are planning to use a tax agent, make sure they are registered with the TPB.”
