myGov, ATO & Centrelink name change
myGov has no change-name button of its own. Update the ATO online first, about 2 minutes, nothing to upload. Then visit Centrelink in person with your original certificate.
myGov copies your name from your linked services. Update the ATO online first: myGov, then ATO online services, My profile, Personal details, Update name and title. About 2 minutes, nothing to upload with an Australian-issued certificate.
Then visit a Services Australia service centre in person with your ORIGINAL certificate for Centrelink. Do both close together so the two services don't disagree on your name.
myGov has no change-my-name button. It copies your name from your linked services, so you update the ATO and Centrelink separately, and myGov then shows whatever they say.
If the ATO and Centrelink end up with different names, they can disagree with each other and unlink. Do both close together, and do the ATO first.
Log in to myGov, open ATO online services, then My profile, then Personal details, then Update name and title. Identity is verified electronically, so there is nothing to upload with an Australian-issued certificate.
No myGov access? Call the ATO on 13 28 61 with your tax file number and your proof ready. With only an overseas certificate, the online update won't accept it: post the ATO's Change of details for individuals form with a certified copy instead.
Take your ORIGINAL BDM-issued certificate to a Services Australia service centre. Ceremonial marriage certificates are not accepted. Changed your name overseas? Bring the original evidence.
The Centrelink website only changes your preferred name, not your legal name. Going back to a former name Centrelink already has on file? Call your regular Centrelink payment line instead of visiting.
Once both are updated, your payments, concession cards, Centrelink letters and ATO notices all switch to your new name. Same process in every state.
Your plan puts myGov, the ATO and Centrelink in phase one, alongside your other government and ID updates, so you handle them early.
At a glance
Every part of this update, the channel it uses, and what you need for it.
| What you are doing | How you do it | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Changing your myGov name | Not possible directly | myGov copies your name from your linked services. Update the ATO and Centrelink instead. |
| ATO name update | myGov > ATO online services > My profile > Personal details > Update name and title | An Australian-issued BDM certificate. Verified electronically, nothing to upload. About 2 minutes. |
| ATO update, overseas certificate | ATO's Change of details for individuals form, posted | A certified copy of your overseas marriage or name change certificate. |
| No myGov access | Phone the ATO on 13 28 61 | Your tax file number and your proof of name change ready. |
| Centrelink name update | In person at a Services Australia service centre | Your ORIGINAL BDM-issued certificate. Ceremonial marriage certificates are not accepted. |
| Centrelink online | Preferred name only | Not a legal name change. Use the service centre for that. |
| Reverting to a name Centrelink already holds | Phone your regular Centrelink payment line | No service centre visit needed for a former name already on file. |
| Order and timing | ATO first, then Centrelink, close together | Avoids the two services showing different names and unlinking. |
Last updated 27 September 2026. Compiled from myGov, the ATO and Services Australia's own pages, checked 27 September 2026. Processes change, so confirm with myGov, the ATO or Services Australia if anything looks different. Not affiliated with any of them.
These sit in the first phase of your plan, alongside your other government and ID updates, such as Medicare and the electoral roll. They are foundation records, so it pays to get them right early.
After government and ID comes money, such as your bank, like Commonwealth Bank, and your super fund, like AustralianSuper. Then home and utilities, such as your energy retailer, like Origin Energy, and your telco, like Telstra.
Married in Australia? Your marriage certificate is your proof, no separate legal step first (see our marriage guide). Choosing a brand new name? See our deed poll guide. Going back to a former name? See our divorce guide.
myGov is one stop of many. Surname Switch builds one ordered checklist with your actual bank, super fund, energy retailer and telco, alongside government records like this one. See what each plan includes. Your details stay on your device, never on our servers. The full list lives in our name change checklist.
myGov, ATO & Centrelink questions
Straight answers to what people ask about changing their name with myGov, the ATO and Centrelink.
myGov itself has no change-name button. Do the ATO online first: log in to myGov, open ATO online services, then My profile, Personal details, Update name and title. Then visit a Services Australia service centre in person for Centrelink, with your original certificate.
myGov copies your name from your linked services, such as the ATO and Centrelink. It has no name field of its own to edit, so you update it with each linked service instead.
Log in to myGov, open ATO online services, then My profile, then Personal details, then Update name and title. It takes about 2 minutes. Identity is verified electronically, so there is nothing to upload with an Australian-issued certificate.
The online ATO update needs an Australian-issued certificate. With only an overseas document, post the ATO's Change of details for individuals form with a certified copy instead.
Take your ORIGINAL BDM-issued certificate to a Services Australia service centre in person. Ceremonial marriage certificates are not accepted. If you changed your name overseas, bring the original evidence. The Centrelink website only changes your preferred name, not your legal name.
If the ATO and Centrelink end up showing different names, the two services can disagree and unlink from each other. Doing both close together keeps them in sync.
Yes. Call the ATO on 13 28 61 with your tax file number and your proof of name change ready.
No. If it's a former name Centrelink already has on file, you can call your regular Centrelink payment line instead of visiting a service centre.
Every place in the right order, every message drafted with AI, your forms filled in where we can. Your details stay on your device. Plans from $25.
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