Launched by the Australian Government in May 2013, myGov consolidates access to a number of important government services by giving you one universal account as a portal to each specified service (once linked and authenticated).
How do I register for a myGov account?
Creating a myGov account can be a simple and straightforward process – head to the myGov sign-in page and click ‘Create an account’. You’ll need personal details to create an account including your email and phone number.
Which services can I link to myGov?
The services you can link to your myGov account include:
- Medicare
- Australian Taxation Office
- Centrelink
- Australian JobSearch
- My Health Record
- My Aged Care
- Child Support
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs
- National Disability Insurance Scheme
- Victorian Housing Register Application
Additionally, your myGov inbox can receive notices and statements from:
- Medicare
- Australian Taxation Office
- Centrelink
- Child Support
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs
- National Disability Insurance Scheme
What can I use MyGov for?
Some of the main things you can use myGov for include lodging your tax return online, recovering lost super and applying for Centrelink payments. That being said, the list of things you can use myGov for will only expand as you link more services to it. Here are some of the more commonplace things you could use your myGov account for.
Tax returns
Today, lodging an online tax return requires a myGov account linked to the Australian Taxation Office. While some people may be more used to lodging a physical return, lodging online offers several benefits including:
- Pre-filled information from employers, banks, super funds and government bodies makes the lodging process easier and faster
- The ability to lodge your return whenever you want as the service is available 24/7
- You’ll generally receive your tax refund faster
Looking for a job
The government’s jobactive website, designed to connect job-seekers with employers, is only available for use by those with a myGov account. So if you’re currently without employment, a myGov account could help you to find your next job.
Medicare rebates
If your GP/health professional doesn’t offer on-the-spot Medicare claim facilities (also known as HICAPS), you can lodge your Medicare claim online through myGov (if your account is linked to Medicare). So if you don’t have private health insurance and make more than a handful of claims per year, myGov could make doing so a much easier and more straightforward process.
Manage your Centrelink
Whether you’re an existing Centrelink recipient or looking to apply for Centrelink payments, you can link your myGov account to Centrelink in order to either manage your account and details (for existing recipients) or get started and apply in the first place.
Having your Centrelink linked to your myGov account will mean when it comes time to do your tax return the details of your Centrelink payments will be pre-filled, meaning you don’t have to figure them out and enter them yourself.
Check your super
You can of course check your super balance through your fund’s website, but you can also do it using myGov and the ATO. Once your myGov account has been linked to the ATO, you’ll be able to check your super balance online, as the ATO regularly checks with your fund to see how much super you’ve got and updates its records accordingly.
To avoid disappointment when you check your super balance, make sure you’re with a super fund that provides you with the best value.
The following table contains details of the superannuation funds rated by Canstar based on someone aged 40-49. This table has been sorted by one-year performance (highest to lowest).
Please note that the performance information shown in the table is for the investment option used by Canstar in rating of the superannuation product.
How to get help with setting up/managing myGov
While myGov represents an effort to shift people online and away from actual government shopfronts, the government still maintains myGov shopfronts in certain states for those who need help with their accounts. The myGov shopfronts are open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and can be found at the following locations (at the time of writing):
myGov Adelaide
88 Grenfell Street
Adelaide CBD
(next to Grenfell Street car park entrance)
myGov Albury
430 Wilson Street
Albury NSW
myGov Brisbane
Suncorp Plaza, opposite King George Square
Brisbane CBD
(entrance next to Albert Street Uniting Church)
myGov Perth
Shop 15, Wesley Quarter
770 Hay Street
Perth CBD
myGov Sydney
Shop 1, 32 Martin Place
Sydney CBD
(opposite the MLC Centre)
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