How to Nominate Equilo as Your BAS Agent with the ATO

Before we can lodge your BAS or talk to the ATO on your behalf, the ATO needs you to nominate us as your registered agent. It’s a one-off step that takes about five minutes once you’re logged in, and this guide walks you through it.

Why the ATO asks you to do this

The ATO uses a process called client-to-agent linking, which means your business has to confirm which agent can act for it before we can add you as a client. It protects you, because no agent can access your ATO records without your say-so. Once it’s done, we can lodge your BAS and IAS, manage PAYG and GST, check your ATO balances and deal with the ATO for you.

Before you start

• You’ll need a myID set to Standard or Strong identity strength.

• Your myID needs to be linked to your business ABN in Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM). If you already log in to Online services for business, this is already done.

• If you’re a sole trader, you can skip this guide, as sole traders don’t need to nominate an agent online and we can add you directly.

Step 1: Set up myID and link it to your business (first time only)

1. Download the myID app and set up your identity. A Strong identity lets you finish everything online.

2. Log in to Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM) with your myID and select Link my business.

3. If you only have a Standard identity, or you’re listed as the primary person on the ABN, you’ll need to call the RAM support line to finish linking.

Step 2: Log in to Online services for business

1. Go to Online services for business and log in with your myID.

2. If you have more than one business, check you’ve selected the right ABN.

Step 3: Nominate Equilo as your agent

1. From the home page, select Profile, then Agent details.

2. Under Agent nominations, select Add.

3. On the Nominate agent screen, go to Search for agent.

4. Enter our registered agent number, 26365740, and select Search.

5. Select Equilo Bookkeeping and check the details are correct.

6. Complete the Declaration and select Submit.

You’ll then see our details listed under Agent nominations.

Step 4: Let us know

The ATO doesn’t notify us when you nominate us, so send your Equilo contact a quick email or message once it’s done. We have 28 days to add you as a client before the nomination expires, so the sooner you tell us, the better. If it gets close to 28 days, you can select Extend next to our name to add another 28 days.

Prefer to do it over the phone?

Contact the ATO Business enquiries team, confirm your identity, and give them our registered agent number, 26365740.

Common hiccups

• I can’t log in to Online services for business: your myID probably isn’t linked to your ABN yet, so start with Step 1.

• The nomination expired: you can’t extend an expired nomination, so submit a new one and let us know.

• I’m not sure if I’ve done it: go to Profile, then Agent details, and check whether Equilo Bookkeeping appears under Agent nominations.

Need a hand?

If you get stuck, book a chat and we’ll walk you through it on screen.