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‘100% mobile’: AUSkey replacement debuts

Technology

Accountants have been urged to start preparing for the rollout of myGovID due to the short nine-month transition time before AUSkey gets decommissioned.

By Jotham Lian 9 minute read

AUSkey is set to be decommissioned by March 2020, with myGovID set to replace it as the key authentication solution.

myGovID will be a new digital identity provider that utilises the security features on a user’s device, such as fingerprint or face detection, allowing the user to access government online services.

ATO director Felix Manero said myGovID would solve mobility issues that agents currently face with the AUSkey.

“How many times have you been stuck with one computer because your AUSkey is tagged to that one computer? Or you’ve got that USB stick? This prevents that; you can now be 100 per cent mobile and use any computer, any location, it doesn’t matter,” Mr Manero said.

“This authentication is exactly the same as you have now with your current AUSKey; it is just an authentication process in which you will be able to access your systems via your phone.”

Mr Manero has urged practitioners to get acquainted with the new authentication solution, noting the short time frame before AUSkey gets phased out.

myGovID is currently available for download from Apple’s App Store for iPhone 6 and above, with the app soon to be available on Android and desktop.

“Be prepared. The transition time is going to be short, so as an agent and a partner of the firm, whatever your role is in your profession, you need to start talking to your firm, start talking to your colleagues that you are getting ready for myGovID — every individual in your firm will need to get their own individual ID,” Mr Manero said.

“When it comes out there will be a lot of information coming out from us.”

While myGovID shares a similar name with myGov, it is not related to the latter, a point Mr Manero was quick to stress.

“myGovID has nothing to do with myGov,” he added.

“Will it cause confusion? You bet. It is going to cause confusion with your staff, your clients and yourself, which is a real challenge for us, but this is the way forward.”

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Jotham Lian

Jotham Lian

AUTHOR

Jotham Lian is the editor of Accountants Daily, the leading source of breaking news, analysis and insight for Australian accounting professionals.

Before joining the team in 2017, Jotham wrote for a range of national mastheads including the Sydney Morning Herald, and Channel NewsAsia.

You can email Jotham at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

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