Things to know before you begin your complaint form: 

• Our department will only investigate a complaint once it has been raised with the Australian Tax Office (ATO) or Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) and failed to come to a resolution 

• There is no save button on the form. You will need to complete it in one sitting  

• All fields which are marked with a red asterisk (*) are mandatory 

• You will need electronic copies of any relevant documents you may want to attach with your complaint. 

Please note, if there is no record of your formal complaint on the ATO’s system, we may transfer your complaint to the ATO for resolution. Learn more about lodging a formal complaint with the ATO. Learn more about lodging a formal complaint with the TPB.

The quickest way to raise your concerns is by completing an online submission. If you are unsure about lodging a complaint, give us a call on 1300 448 829 and our team will be able to provide guidance around which next steps will work best for you.  

If you have all of the below criteria and are ready to lodge a complaint, head to our complaint portal.

Criteria to lodge a complaint

Check you have all of the criteria before you begin lodging your complaint. You should have: 

• your formal complaint reference number from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) or Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) (the ATO reference may look like: 1-XXXXXXXXXXX) 

• your Tax File Number (TFN) (optional) 

• your personal details (e.g. your name and contact details) 

• an explanation of which ATO or TPB actions have caused you concern and how those actions have impacted you 

• the main facts, relevant dates and any supporting documents 

• where you are at now – the result to date 

• the outcome you want from your complaint.  

To lodge this complaint on behalf of another person, we will need to confirm that you are authorised by the other person to discuss their affairs. You will need to complete a standard authorisation form. If you are using the online form, there is an option to add this standard authorisation to the complaint form. 

 Once we have received your complaint, you will be emailed a confirmation. Complaints are prioritised by urgency based on the information you provide in the complaint form. 

We understand that this process may be stressful and ask for your patience and respect towards our investigating officers.  

Lodge a complaint online

If you are ready to lodge a complaint about the ATO or the TPB, the link below will take you to the online form. Alternative ways to lodge a complaint are listed below.

Other ways to lodge a complaint

If you are not able to use the online form, other ways to contact us are listed below. 

Telephone

If you are unable to submit your complaint online, you may call 1300 44 88 29 to leave a voicemail message. Your complaint will enter the queue, and you will be contacted by an investigations officer once your case is assigned. 

Please note that you will not be able to speak directly with an Investigator unless you are calling about an existing complaint. 

Post

If you are unable to submit your complaint online, you may post in your complaint. Our postal address is:  

Taxation Ombudsman 

GPO Box 551 

Sydney NSW 2001 

Once we have received your complaint, it will enter the queue and you will be contacted by an investigations officer once your case is assigned.

Lodging on behalf of another person

When lodging a complaint on behalf of another person, we require an authorisation from them to discuss their affairs. You will also need to complete a standard authorisation form which may be accessed through the complaint form.  

You don’t need to be a registered tax agent to be a representative, provided they have completed authorisation form for you to assist them.  

Language other than English

To lodge a complaint in a language other than English, call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450 and ask them to leave a voicemail message for us on 1300 44 88 29 to arrange a time and date for a phone call. 

We have information in languages other than English which may help you understand the services we provide. 

Hearing, sight or speech impaired assistance 

If you are d/Deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech/communication difficulty please call the National Relay Service on 133 677 and ask them to leave a voicemail message for us on 1300 44 88 29 to arrange a time and date for a phone call. 

Or visit their site for links to chats and video calls.