If you need to add a new tax agent to your Access HandiSoft license or update existing tax agent details due to a change in your business structure, this guide will help you through the process. For updates due to a new Tax Agent Name or Number issued by the ATO, the principal business contact in your firm should follow the steps outlined below.
Submit a Finance Case.
Unsubscribe from your existing ATO EFT Report Service.
Upload new index files.
Update your Agent Trust Account.
Create and upload your ATO Machine Credential to HandiTax.
Re-subscribe to the ATO EFT Report Service.
Submit a Finance Case
Log in to MyAccess portal and click Ask a question.
Click Get help.
Review how to update your company name.
Use the Access Digital Assistant and provide the following information:
Your Client Reference Code
The new Tax Agent Name and Tax Agent Number
Any associated documentation
Indicate the HandiTax years you need updated.
The Revenue Cycle/Billing team will process your changes and email the updated license file(s) to the principal business contact.
Unsubscribe from your existing ATO EFT Report Service
If you currently receive EFT Reconciliation reports from the ATO, you will need to unsubscribe from this service before updating your index file.
In the current year of HandiTax, go to ATO Reports, then Manage EFT Subscription.
Select the Unsubscribe radio button, then enter your Credential Password, then press Submit.
Review the Attention window, then select Yes to proceed.
If the Lodgment Information report displays, click Close.
Upload new index files
Follow the index file instructions provided in your email from the Revenue Cycle/Billing team.
Note: Your new Tax Agent information will replace your existing details.
Update your Agent Trust Account
In HandiTax, go to Options, Front Cover Defaults.
In the Trust Account Details section, review the BSB, Number and Name entered, then click OK.
Create and upload your ATO Machine Credential to HandiTax
When you change your business name, Tax Agent Name or Tax Agent Number, you will also need to create and set up a new machine credential.
Re-subscribe to the ATO EFT Report Service
After updating your machine credential in HandiTax, you can then resubscribe to the EFT Report Service.
In the current year of HandiTax, go to ATO Reports, then Manage EFT Subscription.
Select the Subscribe radio button, then enter your Credential Password, then press Submit.
Review the Attention window, then select Yes to proceed.
If the Lodgment Information report displays, click Close.
To check this has been done successfully, go to ATO Reports, EFT Reconciliation.
Enter your Credential Password, then press Submit.
Prior years still showing the old tax agent number?
If you have completed the steps above and the current year is working correctly, but prior years (e.g. 2025, 2024) still display the old tax agent number with the field greyed out, you need to request and upload index files specifically for those prior years.
📌Note: Index files are year-specific. Uploading a file for the current year does not automatically update prior years, each year requires its own index file.
To fix prior years
Log in to the prior year.
Go to Tools, Copy a new HandiSoft index file.
Choose Download, then click OK and when connected to the internet, click OK again.
When successful, exit and restart the program for the new index file settings to take effect.