The ATO is the Australian Government’s principal revenue collection agency. We aim to manage and shape the revenue systems that lead to social and economic policy, and to fund services for Australians.

We manage revenue through a range of collection systems, including income tax, goods and services tax (GST), superannuation and excise. We administer a range of benefits and refunds, including income tax and GST refunds, excise grants, family tax benefits, superannuation guarantees and the education tax refund.

We also address broader issues affecting Australia’s revenue systems, such as aggressive tax planning, persistent tax debtors, globalisation and the cash economy.

For more information on the ATO structure see Our organisation. 

Watch our video Working for all Australians to find out more about the important work we do. This showcases the role of the ATO and how it works with the community to ensure Australia’s tax and superannuation systems are administered fairly and effectively. 

We’re not just accountants

As a large organisation, we can offer you an amazing breadth of career opportunities to help you reach your ultimate career destination. We are looking for employees who have the drive and initiative to seize opportunities for career and personal development.

We offer a diverse range of opportunities in areas such as audit, finance, accounting, legal, economics, information technology, human resources, design, marketing and communication.

The ATO structure

The ATO is divided into four main areas, called sub-plans; Compliance, Operations, Corporate Services and Law, and Enterprise Solutions and Technology.

These sub-plans are then further divided into business and service lines. Each line focuses on a type of taxpayer such as small or large business, a type of tax such as excise or goods and services tax, or an aspect of internal support such as information technology or financial support.

Compliance

Helps create an environment that promotes high levels of voluntary compliance with tax and superannuation laws, including access to entitlements, at a minimum cost to taxpayers.

Some of the business and service lines you may work in:

• Goods and Services Tax
• Serious Non-compliance
• Large Business and International.

Operations

Creates the right environment for people to meet their obligations and make it as easy as possible for people to interact with the ATO.

Some of the business and service lines you may work in:

• Client Account Services
• Debt.

Corporate Services and Law

Responsible for the interpretation of tax and super laws and manages relationships with our staff, the government and other government agencies.

Some of the business and service lines you may work in:

• Law and Practice
• ATO People
• Corporate Relations.

Enterprise Solutions and Technology

Supports the ATO by providing efficient and effective enterprise solutions and IT services.

Some of the business and service lines you may work in:

• Business Solutions
• Office of Chief Knowledge Officer.

For more information on the ATO’s sub-plans and business and service lines, see the Organisational structure(external link).

As Justice Wendell Holmes of the United States Supreme Court said in 1904, 'taxes are the price we pay for a civilised society'.  

Health, education, justice, general infrastructure, scientific research, emergency services, social security, defence and so many other vital aspects of our society are supported by revenue raised through taxation.

The ATO also administers significant aspects of Australia's superannuation system, safeguarding the retirement income of our citizens.

Both tax and super are important instruments of economic and social policy.

Although the shape of the tax and super systems is a matter for government, our efficiency and effectiveness affects the government's ability to fund public goods, services and programs for the community. How well we do our job has a very direct effect on levels of voluntary compliance and community confidence in our tax and super systems. This includes the administrative choices we make, the advice and feedback we provide to government on operational aspects of tax and super laws, the user friendliness of our systems, the fairness of our approaches and the professionalism of our dealings with taxpayers and their agents.

Our strategic statement sets out the overall direction we need to take over the next few years to ensure we continue to be a world leader in tax and super administration. We are becoming more taxpayer-focused and are looking to find ways to make it easier and cheaper for the community to comply with their tax and super obligations. Equally, we are firming up our responses to those who set out to deliberately avoid paying their fair share of tax or who wilfully breach the requirements of the super laws. This is a matter of fairness for the vast majority of people who do the right thing.

Operationally, our emphasis is shifting from a transaction-based and processing-driven organisation to one that is technologically more responsive, knowledge-based and which seeks to treat people as people and not numbers. At all times we need to be empathetic to people in genuine difficulties while being vigilant and responsive to risks of non-compliance.

At a personal level, one of my career highlights was to re-introduce the graduate program. Our effort to recruit graduates each year is not simply going through the motions of filling a 'quota', but rather a strategy to develop leaders for the future. We are actively seeking people who have the academic qualifications and personal qualities to seize upon opportunities we're creating and to grow with the organisation.

Being a graduate in the ATO has always been rewarding – I know, I was one many years ago. The ATO offers many and varied career paths, including law interpretation, auditing, litigation, IT, human resources, accounting, marketing and management. We have a slogan - 'You can do that here'. I've been fortunate to take on many of these roles, and feel privileged by the career choice I made.

What I have found attractive working in the ATO is the importance of the work we do for our community, our generally collegiate culture and the opportunities for personal growth. So, if you too find these features appealing and see mutual benefits from joining us, we will be delighted to receive your application.

Michael D'Ascenzo
Commissioner of Taxation
Registrar of the Australian Business Register 

We are one of the largest public service employers in Australia with over 25,000 people located in more than 40 locations.

We have a presence in all capital cities and many regional locations such as Albury, Townsville and Alice Springs.

Note: Programs are not available in all our locations, check the job documentation before applying to see the specific locations where programs are offered.