Calling the ATO from Overseas

Calling the Australian Taxation Office from overseas? Find your case below to see which number to dial, when the line is open, and what a call costs from 002call.

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General enquiries from outside Australia

If you are ringing from outside Australia and you are comfortable speaking English, the ATO's overseas enquiries line is +61 2 6216 1111.

The ATO labels these hours AEDT, Australian Eastern Daylight Time. Its contact page says that if a time is not listed as AEDT, it is local time. Sydney's clocks change for daylight saving, so check the Sydney time on the day you plan to call rather than relying on a fixed time difference.

The ATO's contact centres are closed throughout Australia on national public holidays. On state public holidays, only the states affected are closed.

Identity checks before you call

Have your tax file number (TFN) or Australian business number (ABN) ready. The ATO has to establish your identity before it can discuss your details or update your record. Questions may be based on:

• letters or notices the ATO has sent you
• details from a tax return you have lodged
• payment or refund amounts on your accounts
• your employment, super or investments

The ATO may also ask you to confirm details of an identity document, such as your driver licence, Medicare card or passport. Gathering these first saves time on hold.

What to have ready

• Your TFN or ABN
• The letter, notice or return you are asking about, with its date and any reference number on it
• Recent payment or refund amounts, if the call is about money
• Your identity document details, in case they are requested
• A quiet place and a clear line, so you can hear the questions

Avoid the queue with self-service

The ATO's contact page lists several options that do not need a phone call:

• the quick help and support tool, which guides you to answers for common questions
• answers to the top call centre questions
• ATO Community, where general tax and super questions are answered online and moderated by the ATO
• ATO online services, once the ATO is linked to your myGov account, for tasks such as managing your tax returns or setting up a payment plan
• live chat, available to users of myTax

If you do need to speak to someone, the ATO offers voice authentication. When you phone, you can enrol a voiceprint and use your voice to verify your identity on future calls.

Best times to call

The ATO says Mondays are its busiest days, so if your question can wait, calling later in the week may help. Allow for the time difference when you plan a call from abroad, and convert the 8:00am opening time to your local time before you dial.

Frequently asked questions

Which hours apply on public holidays?

The ATO says its contact centres are closed throughout Australia on national public holidays. For state public holidays, only the affected states are closed.

Do I need my TFN to call?

The ATO recommends having your TFN or ABN ready. It also has to establish your identity before it can discuss or update your tax record.

Can I avoid the phone line?

For some tasks, yes. The ATO lists its quick help tool, its answers to top call centre questions, ATO Community, ATO online services linked through myGov, and live chat for myTax users.

002call sends your call over the internet, so it skips the international call charges your carrier and hotel phone would add. There is no subscription, and you pay only for the minutes you use. If you are abroad, Wi-Fi avoids mobile data charges.

Direct Cost Comparisons for Calling Options

Breakdown of Providers

Calls to Australia from overseas can cost more than you expect, depending on how you dial.

• Carrier roaming: $0.50 - $2.00 / min, depending on the carrier, plus monthly and hidden charges.
• Hotel room phones: a hotel landline can add administrative markups on top of the standard call rate.
• 002call: $0.02 / min.

Why 002call is the smart way to call

At $0.02 a minute, a 20-minute hold on the ATO's overseas line costs $0.40. Roaming and hotel phones can cost noticeably more, and their rates depend on your plan or the hotel, so check those before you dial. 002call shows the rate before you start, so you know the cost before the queue begins.

Number and hours sourced from the ATO's contact us page, checked 12 October 2026, and cross-checked against the Australian Government Directory enquiry lines, checked 12 October 2026. The ATO labels its hours AEDT. 002call's rates come from its published rate table.