Most people know to be cautious of unexpected texts, emails or phone calls claiming to be from the ATO. But not every costly mistake starts with a scam. Sometimes it starts with information that sounds convincing but turns out to be wrong.

The ATO is warning that misinformation found in search results, AI-generated summaries, websites and social media can lead people to make tax and super decisions based on incorrect or incomplete information.

Tax time creates the perfect environment for both scams and misinformation to spread. Messages may impersonate the ATO or myGov, while online tax tips may not take individual circumstances into account. Just because something appears at the top of a search page or has been shared widely online doesn't mean it's correct.

Before acting on something you've seen online, ask yourself whether it can be verified against an official source and whether it actually applies to your circumstances. If something sounds too good to be true, it may be worth taking a closer look.

If you've seen something online about tax, deductions, refunds or super and you're unsure whether it's correct, ask us before acting. A quick conversation now may save significant time, money and stress later.