Note: You do not need to set up the ATO API for SmartDocs to work.
A short setup video is available in the original article.
If your practice uses Restricted Clients, a separate article is recommended before proceeding.
What you need
You must have the following:
Your practice’s ABN
Your practice’s TAN (you can add more than one TAN)
Principal authority or authorisation administrator access in ATO RAM
Add the ATO API in SmartDocs
Log in to iPracticeHub.
Select Setup > Configuration > Integration.
Click Add item.
Select ATO from the dropdown list.
Enter:
API name: ATO API
Australian Business Number: enter the ABN
Tax Agent Number: enter the TAN
Tick the Lodgment channels you want to enable. These should match the channels you use when manually downloading from the ATO Portal’s Communication History.
Tick Enable API.
Click Update.
Note:
Use the + symbol to add additional TANs.
IMPORTANT: Do not close the setup window until you have completed the ATO registration process as you will need the ATO Software ID and other details provided in this popup window.
Register the API in ATO RAM
You must update your ATO Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM) to give SmartDocs access to your ATO documents.
Follow the instructions under Add or remove a software ID on the ATO webpage
To access the RAM, click here.
Important notes about ATO API lodgment channels
Digital Agent: Sends digital communications to Online Services for Tax Agents.
ATO Online: Used for activity statement notices and Statements of Tax Record.
MyGov: Where clients receive ATO documents if they have linked MyGov.
MyGov emails: Only notification emails—no PDFs are included.
Paper: For clients who have paper communications enabled.
If you want to import all ATO‑issued documents, enable the following channels:
ATO Online
Digital Agent
MyGov
Paper
Do not enable:
Email
SMS (SmartDocs cannot currently process these HTML‑based channels)
You may additionally enable:
Tax receipts
MyGov emails (notification only)