TOTAL SCAM!!! I got a call from 1300 466 859 requesting TFN and details be advised to the voice recorded message. The number states it is the ATO. I contacted the ATO on these contact numbers, which are their only point of contact. https://www.ato.gov.au/About-ATO/About-us/Contact-us/Phone-us/ We have reported this to scamwatch and other organisations who are very well aware of this and that they constantly dodge the law. Report the scam on https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam

I've just called this number as a msg was left for someone who is not me and It is defiantly the ATO

The ATO run many campaigns, one particular campaign is to contact clients who have a debt or a payment plan which has defaulted. The ATO is doing you a favour by advising you of your debt, or defaulted payment plan. When the ATO call if you are unavailable they will leave a message for you to call back the "early debt collections area" on 1300 466 859. It is not a scam, if you don't return the call then your debt case may be escalated to a higher department where further action will commence - such as garnishing your bank account, and even starting legal action. Its in your best interest to return the call ASAP, of face the consequences.

It's a scam and you know it. It's been reported to the ATO.

You are obviously one of the scammers.

This is a SCAM. I just called the ATO scam reporting line to check if it was a known scam and if they had called me. No-one from the ATO had called me recently. She submitted a report on this scam. The scam reporting number is on the ATO website on the about us/contact us page.

My hubby received a message asking to call on the 1300 466 859 and so I called it to sort it out and after everything was sorted I started to panic and googled the number and came across this thread. I had already given everthing including bank details so I took all the money out of said account and then called the ATO and happy to say IT WAS NOT A SCAM....... PHEW !

It's a scam. I just called the fraud line of the ATO who confirmed that the ATO have no reason to call me, no record of a call to me on file and no record of that number on their system. I did call the number and spoke to a chap who told me i had gst debt and asked me all of my personal information I told him to send me a letter - it's all rubbish and they are just trying to get the personal info that the tax office need to deal with you - why? I have no idea. Call an ATO number and ask them to look at your file and find out whats going on rather than this fraud number.

Yes it does, i work for accountants and we get calls from them all the time

Its a scam. I am up to date with my tax which was confirmed with my agent who called the tax department who also confirmed all o.k.

Don't be a sucker.

"ATO" you are wrong. They do have an early collections department. It is who takes over your debt recovery if you are very delinquent in paying your tax debts. If you think it is incorrect, simply call the main ATO line and they will transfer you to the early collection department.

You're an idiot - and wrong

Yes, yes they do. On the below page you'll see "Debt Early Intervention" and the number 1300 880 217 next to it.
https://www.ato.gov.au/About-ATO/About-us/Contact-us/Phone-us/

Stop spreading plain misinformation.

I work in the early debt collections department for the ATO, I contact clients who have debts - or payment plans which have defaulted. If Im unable to contact a client I usually leave a message for the client to call back on 1300 466 859, If you don't call me back then your debt case will be elevated to a higher department and then we may refer your debt to an external debt collection agency. We may even garnishee your bank account, or start legal action depending on the size of the debt. Its in your best interest to not ignore my call. You have been warned. IT IS NOT A SCAM.

no scam....

Just ignore anyone that says this is NOT a scam. it is. A bunch of pricks preying on the people who should don't know better. They got my name wrong and said they needed to talk to me regarding someone's tax file. Someone I had dealings with over 7 years ago.
The ATO don't do this.

so i get this call as well, i call back on the 1300# that was provided on my answering service. 1300 466 859. i google it and find all this stuff here. so i am pretty sceptical. But the lady knew my tax debt and i figure this is legit. then when i ask her where her office is she tells me that its in varsity parade Varsity Lakes QLD. OK cool.. now little does this lady know i also work in Varsity parade in Varsity Lakes. So i ask her some general stuff like so that must be a nice place is there any cafes you can have lunch at etc.. no there isnt any etc etc.. so i call her out saying that she doesn't work there and she has a virtual office and is this true.. She says yes. I ask her what is the name of the third party debt collections agency you work for and she gets really upset and tells me that she doesnt have to give me this information... NOW what kind of a f*cked up company gets a contract like this to collect for the ATO.. possibly the most bullsh*t call i have ever had... all she kept saying was you called us you called us and yet the number she gave me is no where to be found nor could she explain why...
Now if this is a legit collection agency and it may well be, it is the worst possible contract ever given out. The lady deadset lied to me about the location of her office.

This is a 100% scam. Got a call today, I use a tax agent, I called her she said it's not a tax office number. Go to the ato website and report it.

pretty much the same as already reported, but Kate also works at the ATO, with a bad English accent, just hang up people.

I work in an accountant's office and every single call we get for the ATO or one of the debt collection companies the phone numbers are ALWAYS blocked