Client IDs: Protecting clients and their SMSFs

Nominating Heffron as Tax Agent for your SMSF

Clients who are looking to engage Heffron for tax agent services will need to nominate Heffron as tax agent following the client-to-agent linking method. This is not something Heffron can do on their behalf. Clients must nominate Heffron using Online Services for Business before Heffron can provide tax agent services.

How does a client nominate Heffron?

Follow the steps below to set up myID, link myID to your ABN and nominate Heffron as tax agent. If you have already set up Online services for business, skip to step 3 and login to your account using your myID.

• Remember myID is different to myGov (do not login to myGov).
• MyID is the Australian Government’s Digital Identity application. It can only be accessed via a phone application (it is not available as a webpage).
• We recommend that you have your myID application open on your phone while completing the other steps on a computer.
• Follow these instructions to set up myID via the mobile app.

• Use your myID to login to Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM).
• You’ll need to use RAM to link your myID to the ABN for the SMSF.
• The principal authority is the person responsible for the business and must be the first person to link the ABN in RAM.
• You require Strong myID identity strength to link online.
• Your name must also be listed in the Australian Business Register (ABR) for the SMSF.

• Use your myID to login to Online Services for Business.
• Select the ABN for the SMSF.

• From the Online Services for Business home page:
  • Select profile, then agent details.
  • At the agent nomination feature, select add.
  • On the nominate agent screen go to search for agent.
  • Type Heffron’s Registered Agent Number (RAN) – 65286005 or Heffron as the practice name and click search.
  • Select Heffron, check that the details are correct and click submit.
• You’ll now see Heffron listed under agent nominations.

• Please contact transitions@heffron.com.au and let them know you have submitted the nomination request.

For further information about client-to-agent linking, visit the ATO.

Identity Verification

New and existing clients of Heffron will be required to complete an identity check before tax agent services can be provided or in the event they change their arrangements such as when requesting a change of trustee or change to fund associates for the SMSF. Clients will be identified by verifying details of their identification documents against government databases through our third-party partner Cloudcheck.

Cloudcheck

Heffron has partnered with registered Gateway Service Provider of the Document Verification Service (DVS), Cloudcheck, to undertake identification checks. Based in New Zealand, Cloudcheck uses information from key identification documents such as Australian passport, driver’s licence, birth certificate, etc. and checks them against Australian government databases to perform a verified ID check.

Cloudcheck complies with all strict data security requirements imposed upon them by the Australian Government and purges all data within 7 days of receiving it. More information about Cloudcheck and their data retention policy can be found here.

If clients are required to complete an identity check to engage Heffron’s services, they will receive an email link with instructions to provide identification data which will automatically be verified against government databases and a result will be sent to Heffron.

For more information about client verification, visit the ATO or read the TPB Guidelines.