Why your family can't use your myGov after you're gone (and what to do instead)
A deceased person's tax can't be managed through their myGov. Here's how the ATO actually handles it, who can step in, and what to set up now so your family isn't stuck.
It's a reasonable assumption: if everything's in myGov, surely your family can log in and sort out your tax when you're gone. Unfortunately, that's not how it works — and families often discover the gap at the worst time. Here's the reality, and the simple fix.
The short answer
A deceased person's tax affairs can't be handled through their myGov or myTax — those can only be used by the account holder themselves. The deceased's tax information is accessed through the ATO directly, and someone (usually the executor) must formally notify the ATO of the death and of who will manage the estate (ATO).
Why myGov is a dead end here
myGov and myTax are personal services, tied to the individual who owns the account. After death, no one is meant to log in as that person, and the deceased's tax details aren't available through other government channels either — they sit with the ATO (ATO). So sharing a password isn't the answer (and isn't appropriate). The proper, authorised path runs through the ATO.
What to do instead
The estate's legal personal representative — the executor named in the will, or an administrator appointed if there's no will — has the authority to manage the deceased's tax affairs. To get there:
- Notify the ATO of the death and of who will manage the estate, using the ATO's official notification process (ATO).
- The ATO adds that person to the estate's records, giving them authority to deal with the deceased's tax.
- From there, the representative can handle any final return and the estate's ongoing tax obligations.
The notification is an online form, with supporting documents verified at a participating Australia Post outlet (ATO).
What to set up now
You can't hand your family your myGov, but you can make the proper path easy:
- Note who your executor is and make sure they know they're named.
- Record your accountant or tax agent's details — they can help the representative enormously.
- Keep your tax records findable — recent returns, your tax file number reference, and any agent details — in one secure place your trusted person can reach.
That last point is where a secure vault helps: not by sharing logins, but by making sure the right person knows who your accountant is and where your records live. Our step-by-step estate guide shows where the ATO step fits among everything else.
Frequently asked questions
Can someone use my myGov after I die? No. myGov and myTax can only be used by the account holder. A deceased person's tax is managed through the ATO directly (ATO).
Who can manage a deceased person's tax? The legal personal representative — the executor or administrator of the estate — once they've notified the ATO and been added to the estate's records (ATO).
How do I notify the ATO of a death? Through the ATO's official notification process — an online form with documents verified at a participating Australia Post outlet (ATO).
Should I just write my myGov password down for my family? No — it won't give them a legitimate way to manage your tax, and it isn't the intended path. Instead, record your executor and accountant details and keep your tax records findable.
This guide is general information, not legal, financial or tax advice. Processes are current as at June 2026; confirm with the linked ATO pages or a registered tax agent.