Setting up in RAM is different depending on your role, either:

• I’m responsible for a business or a business owner or business associate (principal authority)
• I’m an employee or act on behalf of a business (authorised user or administrator)
• I use business software (business software user or provider).

Find out more on each role below.

I’m responsible for a business or a business associate (principal authority)

If you’re responsible for a business or a business associate you are considered a principal authority in RAM. This includes a:

• sole trader
• eligible individual associate listed on an Australian business number (ABN) in the Australian Business Register (ABR) – including the trustee, director, public officer or partner
• primary person (no individual associates listed in the ABR) – including the director or public officer for a corporate trustee; executor of a deceased estate; a responsible person of a company, association or not-for-profit; or an authorised contact for a government entity.

As the principal authority, you need to set up a myGovID with a Standard identity strength and link it to the business in RAM. Once the business is linked, you can authorise others to act on behalf of the business. This includes setting up authorisation administrators who can also authorise others.

The way to link your business depends on whether you are a:

• sole trader or eligible individual associate
• primary person.

I’m an employee or act on behalf of a business (authorised user or administrator)

To act on behalf of a business online, a principal authority or authorisation administrator (as authorised by the principal authority) needs to authorise you. You then become an authorised user or administrator.

If you need to contact the principal authority to be authorised, this is the person responsible for the business or business associate. For example, the trustee, director, public officer, partner or an authorised contact.

See also:

• Authorised users and administrators

I use business software (business software user or provider)

To interact with government online services through your software, you need a machine credential which is installed via RAM.
You only need to create a machine credential if you use desktop, locally hosted or on premise enterprise software (business software user). For cloud-based SBR-enabled software, your digital software provider will create the machine credential and install it on their server (business software provider).

See also:

• Machine credentials

This means your myGovID does not meet the required identity strength. Log into your myGovID app and add your identity documents.

You should check that you have entered the email verification code into RAM correctly.

Check that you have entered your email address correctly. The email address can be different to the one used to set up your myGovID, for example a work email address.

Check that the start date for the authorisation is before the end date.

You should contact your principal authority or authorisation administrator to be re-authorised.

To link a business in RAM you need to be the principal authority of the business. This is the person responsible for the business or a business associate. For example a sole trader, trustee, director or public officer. 

If you can’t find your business in RAM this may be because:

• your details on the ABR are not up to date, for example you may not be listed as the person responsible for the business, or your name may not match your legal name used in your myGovID, these details can be updated
  • by another principal authority in ABR online services if their myGovID is already linked to the business
  • through your registered tax agent
  • by contacting the ABR
• you’re a primary person, this is a principal authority who is not an individual associate, for example a director of a corporate trustee. You will need to contact us to link your business, see Principal authority.

If you’re a principal authority, check or update your details on the Australian Business Register (ABR) through:

• ABR online services, another principal authority in your business can login using their myGovID if your myGovID is not linked to the business yet
• through your registered tax agent
• by contacting the ABR – before you call, try to link your business in RAM if you haven’t already in case your details are up to date
• ABR online services, if you have already linked your business to your myGovID

Updating your details on the ABR may assist you if you haven’t been able to link your business. This could be because:

• you’re not listed as the personal responsible for the business on the ABR
• your name listed on the ABR doesn’t match your legal name used to set up your myGovID

You cannot check or update business details in the ABR unless you have been authorised by the principal authority or authorisation administrator.

If you have been authorised, you can update ABR details through ABR online services using your myGovID.

If you’re not sure who the principal authority is, this is the person responsible for the business or a business associate, for example a sole trader, trustee, director or public officer.

No. Only the principal authority (that is, sole trader, individual associate listed on the ABR or primary person) can link a business in RAM.

Once linked, the principal authority can then authorise others to act on behalf of the business online. This includes granting the role of authorisation administrator, allowing that person to authorise others as well.

See also:

• Principal authority
• Authorised users and administrators

Currently, myGovID is the only authentication credential you can use to access RAM. In future, RAM may accept other credentials which will also need to be accredited under the Trusted Digital Identity Framework.

The RAM website has the best support material to help you. This information will continuously be updated as RAM extends to more government online services.

If you still need to speak with us, you can contact our support line on 1300 287 539 (select option 3 for RAM enquiries) between:

• 8.00am and 8.00pm, Monday to Friday
• 10.00am and 4.00pm (AEST), Saturday and Sunday.

All times are local unless otherwise specified.

If you receive an error message ‘Details cannot be matched’ (error code REB.BR.0201, REB.BR.0202, REB.BR.0205, or REB.BR.0206), you may need to update your details held by the ATO such as:

• name
• date of birth
• personal address (not your business address).

To find out how to update your ATO record, go to Update your details.

If your ATO records are correct, you may need to check and update the details you used to set up your myGovID.

If you are removed as a registered associate of a business in the Australian Business Register (ABR), you will no longer have access to this business in RAM.

When you log in to RAM you will not see the business listed in your authorised businesses.

If you still need access, a current principal authority or authorisation administrator can set you up as an authorised user.

If a business listed is:

• no longer operating – you’ll need to cancel the Australian business number (ABN)
• still operating but you are no longer the associate – you’ll need to update the details on the ABR.

You can update your details on the ABR website using your myGovID.

If you’re unable to do this, phone the ATO on 13 28 66 for assistance in updating your details.

If you’re listed as a sole trader or an eligible individual associate on the Australian Business Register (ABR) you can link up to 499 ABNs in RAM.

Use the Link my business function to select and link to up to 60 ABNs at a time and repeat the process as required.

The ABN limit error does not apply if you are a primary person  (no individual associates listed in the ABR) linking your business.

If you need further assistance, phone our support line on 1300 287 539 (select option 3 for RAM enquiries) between 8.00am and 6.00pm (AEST), Monday to Friday.

As a principal authority you need a myGovID with a Standard identity strength to link an ABN in RAM. You may be unable to achieve this if you don’t have the right identity documents.

If you're unable to achieve a Standard identity strength, check whether another principal authority for the ABN can, so they can link the business in RAM instead.

If no principal authority can achieve a Standard identity strength, you won’t be able to use myGovID. You could consider using alternative lodgment options, such as cloud-based Standard Business Reporting (SBR)-enabled software or a registered tax agent.

The identity documents you can use to verify your identity are continuing to expand, so you may be able to achieve a myGovID with a Standard identity strength in the future. See How do I get set up? or check the myGovID app for the latest list of accepted identity documents.

You may be unable to achieve a Standard identity strength if you don’t have the right identity documents.

Depending on the government agency you're dealing with you may be able to setup a myGovID with a Basic identity strength to access online services. In these cases, you’ll need to be authorised as a Basic user in RAM by a principal authority or authorisation administrator.

Some agencies may require further identity proofing.

The identity documents you can use to verify your identity are continuing to expand, so you may be able to upgrade to a Standard identity strength in future. See How do I get set up? or check the myGovID app for the latest list of accepted identity documents.

See also:
•    Accessing ATO online services with a Basic myGovID

When authorising other individuals to act on behalf of your business in RAM, you do not need to use a personal email address or the one that was used when establishing their myGovID. This email address will be used to send their authorisation request to so if you elect to use a different or non-personal email, you should ensure it's accessible to the person you are authorising.

There is no limit to the number of authorised users or administrators you can have for your business or entity.

Contact an authorisation administrator to re-issue a new authorisation if your code has expired or isn't working.

The code is case sensitive and must be entered exactly as displayed in the email you receive.

You have five attempts to enter your authorisation code. After five incorrect attempts, you'll be locked out for two hours before you can try again.

If you continue to experience issues entering your code, contact the principal authority or authorisation administrator to re-issue a new code.

If you have any issues accepting an authorisation, contact your principal authority or authorisation administrator. Ensure the name used for the authorisation matches your full legal name used to set up your digital identity.

You can only have one authorisation for each business you are acting on behalf of. If you have an existing authorisation and accept a new authorisation request for the same business, this will override your existing authorisation.

Setting up your myGovID on multiple devices does not affect the authorisations you have been assigned in RAM.

Yes. A principal authority or authorisation administrator can change an individual’s level of access for a business via RAM. See Manage authorisations for more information on how to edit or remove access for an authorised user.   

RAM with a digital identity, such as myGovID, is secure and ensures only you and authorised users can access a government online service and transact for the business.

However, if you suspect someone has inappropriately accessed your business details in RAM, you need to report this immediately. Contact our support line on 1300 287 539 (select option 3 for RAM enquiries) between 8.00am and 6.00pm, Monday to Friday.

You should also review and remove any authorisations of concern, go to Manage authorisations to find out how.

International callers can contact the ATO by phoning + 61 2 6216 1111 (switchboard) between 8.00am to 5.00pm AEST and request for your call to be transferred to the RAM support line.

For more information about the security of RAM and tips for staying safe online see How secure is it?

No, your digital identity (such as myGovID) belongs to you and should not be shared with others.

See Security for more information.

You don’t need to create a machine credential if you use cloud-based SBR-enabled software. Instead, your digital service provider will create the machine credential and install it on their server.

No, the machine credential administrator (MCA) role is only required if the person will be creating and managing machine credentials. An authorisation is not required for someone to use a machine credential.

Visit Using myGovID, RAM and machine credentials on the Software developers website, or ask a machine credential question in the ATO's Online services for DSPs.

If you continue to receive the message ‘Software required’ after downloading your browser extension, you can try to resolve your issue by:

Checking your browser extension is ‘enabled’

Note: Steps may vary depending on your browser version.

Chrome users

• Open the Chrome browser on your device
• At the top right, click More, then select More tools, then select Extensions
• Check if the ATOBE is Enabled. If it is Disabled, click to Enable
• Close your browser
• Reopen your browser and log in to RAM using your myGovID to create a machine credential.

Firefox users

• Open the Firefox browser on your device
• In the Address field type ‘about:addons’ and click Enter
• Select Extensions in the left-hand menu
• Check if the ATOBE is Enabled. If it is Disabled, click to Enable
• Close your browser
• Reopen your browser and log in to RAM using your myGovID to create a machine credential.

Check your security software has not blocked the browser extension

Note: Microsoft Defender is used as an example here (most security software will have similar steps). If you use different security software, check with your provider for guidance.

• Open Microsoft Defender
• SmartScreen will display that the app you want to install is unrecognized – then select More info
• Select the button Run anyway and follow the prompts
• Ensure ATOBE is Enabled in your chosen browser (refer to ‘Checking your browser extension is enabled’ above)
• Close your browser
• Reopen your browser and log in to RAM using your myGovID to create a machine credential.

If you continue to receive the ‘Software required’ message, phone the Technical Help Desk on 1300 139 373 between 7.00am and midnight (AEST), Monday to Sunday.

If you no longer require the browser extension on your operating system, you can remove it from your web browser through the browser extension settings. You only need to do this if you no longer need to create new machine credentials.

If you remove a browser extension and later require new machine credentials, you can re-install the browser extension.

However, if you remove the browser extension from your Chrome browser you will not be able to re-install it using the regular link as Chrome assumes the browser extension is not trusted. You’ll need to download and install the browser extension from the Chrome web store.