ATO Objection Form for Taxpayers (NAT 13471): Fillable PDF
Objection form - for taxpayers
Australian Taxation Office
Lodges a formal objection against an ATO decision such as an assessment, amended assessment, or private ruling.
Reviewed July 2026
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How it works
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The objection form for taxpayers (NAT 13471) is the Australian Taxation Office form for formally disputing an ATO decision, such as an income tax assessment, an amended assessment, or a private ruling. Lodging an objection triggers a formal review: the ATO must consider your grounds and issue an objection decision, which in turn opens the door to external review if you still disagree.
This form is a dynamic XFA PDF, a format that only renders properly in Adobe Acrobat Reader on a computer. Browser PDF viewers and online editors, including the Universal PDF editor, show a please wait placeholder page instead of the form. Download the PDF from this page, open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader, complete it there, and check ato.gov.au for the current version before lodging.
What an objection is for
An objection is the formal way to tell the ATO you believe a decision is wrong and why. Typical subjects include income tax assessments and amended assessments, penalties, and private rulings. It differs from simply requesting an amendment: an objection engages your formal review rights, and the ATO's objection decision can then be taken to the Administrative Review Tribunal or the Federal Court if you remain dissatisfied.
Objections must be lodged within the time limit that applies to the decision you are disputing, and the limits vary by decision type and taxpayer circumstances. Check the current time limits on ato.gov.au, and if yours has passed you can ask the ATO to accept a late objection with an explanation for the delay.
Who uses this form
Individual and business taxpayers objecting to a decision about their own affairs. Registered tax and BAS agents lodging on behalf of clients have their own version, the objection form for tax professionals (NAT 13044).
The paper or PDF form is only one route. Many taxpayers lodge objections online through ATO online services in myGov, which avoids the XFA format entirely.
How to complete the XFA form
Because of the dynamic format, the workflow differs from other forms on this site:
- Download the PDF to your computer rather than opening it in a browser tab.
- Open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available for Windows and macOS. The dynamic sections expand as you answer.
- Identify yourself and the decision you are objecting to, including the relevant year or period.
- Set out your grounds fully: what you believe is wrong, why, and the outcome you are seeking, attaching evidence that supports each ground.
- Sign the declaration and lodge the objection with the ATO by the method described in the form's instructions.
Where the objection goes
Unlike employment declarations, an objection is lodged with the ATO itself, following the lodgment instructions in the form. The ATO reviews the objection and issues a written objection decision.
Objections can involve significant amounts and legal argument, so consider having a registered tax agent or solicitor review your grounds before lodging, especially where deadlines or penalties are involved.
Frequently asked questions
NAT 13471 is a dynamic XFA PDF. Browser viewers and most PDF editors cannot render XFA, so they display a built-in placeholder that says please wait. Download the file and open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader on a computer to see and complete the actual form.
No. XFA forms are the exception to our normal editor flow. Use this page to download the PDF, then complete it in Adobe Acrobat Reader. Our editor works normally for the other ATO forms in this library.
It depends on the decision type and your circumstances, and the periods differ significantly. Check the current time limits on ato.gov.au for your decision. If the deadline has passed, you can request that the ATO treat a late objection as valid, explaining the delay.
The decision you are disputing, the periods involved, full grounds explaining what you believe is wrong and why, the outcome you seek, and supporting evidence. Vague objections are harder to decide in your favour, so be specific.
Yes. Objections can be lodged through ATO online services in myGov, which many people find easier than handling the XFA file. The grounds and evidence requirements are the same.
You can generally seek external review of an objection decision, for example through the Administrative Review Tribunal or the Federal Court. Time limits apply at that stage too, so get advice promptly from a registered tax agent or lawyer.
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