ATO's SMSF slip up

An Australian Taxation Office (ATO) CD containing the tax file numbers (TFN) of more than 3,000 self-managed super funds has gone missing while in the hands of an ATO contractor.

The funds’ TFNs were on a CD of scanned letters being sent to the ATO via a courier from the company contracted to print the letters.

The courier is said to have received the CD but it was not delivered to the ATO.

ATO Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo maintained that the ATO takes the privacy of personal details very seriously.

D’Ascenzo said the ATO has strict procedures in place to protect taxpayer information, and this extends to authorised contractors.

“I am concerned that this parcel containing taxpayer information has failed to be delivered, even though the courier believes the parcel is still within their warehouse facilities.

“While there is no evidence the information has fallen into the wrong hands or been misused, I am taking the matter seriously,” he said.

Meanwhile, the relevant trustees have been contacted, with the ATO offering the affected funds new TFNs.

D’Ascenzo said there was a risk the information could be misused if the courier is unable to locate the CD.

“I am encouraging trustees who receive a letter from us to consider taking up our offer of a new tax file number so as to play it safe in relation to their funds’ information.”

A full investigation will be conducted into the matter.