This is a legit phone number for the ATO Early Collections are. Will get a call if you have a outstanding debt on one of your ATO accounts.

Do you call though as a tax agent though? There are priority numbers and different ID methods for agents...

This is an absolute scam. These guys are filth. Conofirmed with the ATO - this number is nowhere on their internal system.

DO NOT give them any information. At all.

If you have an questions, ring the ATO Scam Line on 1 800 008 540.

you normally call through on the tax agent line though dont you?? you should be ashamed of yourself telling people to ignore it - atleast say to call the ATO directly.

Its not a scam. Its the Australian Taxation Office. I work for Accountants and we get calls from this number for our clients.

Scam

This is not a scam. I input the TFN of the client after the automated prompt and the person on the other side knew the name of the client just from that TFN. They also knew the amount of debt outstanding. They then asked for the client to call 1300 880 217 which is a phone number that does appear on the ATO website.

I just rang them and they told me it wasn't one of their numbers

This is a scam. With a tax file number and a notice of assessment reference number these guys can just about access all you details, change bank account details etc. The ATO does not call you unless you have been sent letters in the mail previously. If in doubt, call the ATO directly an confirm.

Yes, it is the ATO!

https://www.ato.gov.au/Media-centre/Media-releases/Don-t-fall-for-phony-tax-debt-scam/

This is a legitimate ATO number. I rang the ATO switchboard on 132869 and they verified that this is the early debt intervention department. THIS IS NOT A SCAM. When you ring 1300 466 859 the recording states that this is the Australian Tax Office and then the voiceprint recognition service is now available. This recorded message always comes up when you ring a legitimate ATO number every time. Scams do not have this message when you ring. Hope this is helpful to everyone.

its the ATO, they called me from a blocked number and i didn't want to confirm any details to prove my identity. they said they were the ATO debt department and i should call back on that number. I was suss as all hell, but I ended up speaking to them as I have been working with my accountant to pay off my tax debt and this was a not unexpected call.

they put me through to other departments at the end of the call, so if they are scammers they are good.

This number IS legit. On the ATO website there are two numbers listed for the "Debt Early Intervention" section of the ATO. If you call either of these numbers, you WILL get the ATO. Ask them about whether the phone number you were told to call is theirs. Also, ask the ATO when they called you, as they keep a record of all outgoing calls made. I have just got off the phone with the ATO (Liam), who has verified the 1300 466 859 number. Hopefully my suggestion of listing that number on the web site with the others will be actioned.

Its not a scam. Its ATO early collections. I get calls from them all the time as I work at accountants office!

OK so I got a call from 1300 466 859. I didn't call back but checked my MyGov account, as someone recommended here, and found that my tax for last year was registered as still owing even though I had paid it months ago. Rang the ATO on the number they give on their website. Turns out I paid my tax into the wrong account. I asked about the phone number. At first the guy said it must be a scam because he searched ATO numbers and couldn't find it. But then he paused and said 'Oh ... hang on ... I think that is someone from another area ...'. Given he'd been through the ATO numbers and couldn't find it, I think it is actually some kind of debt collection agency the ATO has working for them. He said it wasn't a scam. I think the ATO people themselves are a bit confused because they look for the number amongst ATO numbers and can't find it, therefore they tell people it's a scam, which this guy did at first. I think many of them don't check further and don't realise it's these external people.

All of the 'this is not a scam' people seem to describe themselves as debt collectors.

https://www.ato.gov.au/Media-centre/Media-releases/Protect-yourself-against-phone-scams/

This is from the ATO website - it says to get the person's name and call back via 1800 008 540 (the general number for ATO).

ATO employee friend confirmed this was the correct number when I asked about a scammer who left a message telling me to call an 02 phone number. He said they do not leave normal numbers or threats on answering machines.

This is a scam, follow the ato website