Can you have two myGov accounts? The short answer is: myGov expects one account per person, and each email address can only be used for one account. You could technically open a second account with a different email address, but it causes more problems than it solves — you cannot link the same government service, like Centrelink or the ATO, to two different myGov accounts. If you are thinking about a second account, you are almost always better off recovering your original one instead. The official rules are set out on the myGov account help page.
The Short Answer
Here is the position in plain terms:
- One email, one account. myGov states clearly that your account must have a unique email address, and the same email cannot be used for two myGov accounts.
- One account per person is the expectation. Your myGov account holds your personal tax, health and payment information, so it is meant for you alone.
- Services cannot be linked twice. Your Centrelink record, Medicare record or ATO record can only be linked to one myGov account at a time. A second account cannot give you a second copy of the same service.
- Sharing is against the rules. You must not let someone else use your myGov account, and you must not use someone else’s — even your partner’s or a parent’s.
So while nothing physically stops you from signing up again with a brand new email address, a second account does not give you a second Centrelink account or a second tax record. It just gives you an empty second login to keep track of.
What myGov’s Rules Actually Say
To create a myGov account you need either a personal email address that only you can access, or a Digital ID. When you sign up with email, myGov asks you to create a strong password, set up multifactor authentication (MFA) on a device only you can access, and choose secret questions.
The email rule is the hard limit. If you share an email address with someone — a partner, for example — only one of you can use that address to create a myGov account. The other person needs their own email address. myGov also recommends using a personal email address rather than a work or shared address, because you need to keep receiving security codes and inbox messages there for years.
Once your account is created, you link services to it — Centrelink, Medicare, the ATO and others. That linking is tied to your identity records, such as your Customer Reference Number (CRN) or Tax File Number (TFN). That is why the same service cannot be linked to two accounts: the system already knows that record belongs to your first account.
Why a Second Account Causes Problems
People usually consider a second account for a simple reason — they lost access to the first one, or they want a fresh start. But a second account tends to create these headaches:
- Split messages. Letters and notifications from linked services go to the myGov Inbox of the account the service is linked to. With two accounts, you can end up checking the wrong inbox and missing something important.
- Linking errors. When you try to link Centrelink or the ATO to the new account, the link will fail or be refused, because that record is already linked elsewhere.
- Two logins to secure. Every account needs its own password and MFA. Two accounts double the chance of a lockout — and double the confusion about which login goes with which service.
- Identity mix-ups. If you ever need help from Services Australia, having two accounts in your name slows things down while staff work out which one holds your linked services.
In short, a second account does not fix a locked or forgotten first account. It just adds a spare login that holds nothing useful.
Can Couples or Families Share One Account?
No. Each person needs their own myGov account with their own email address. This is one of the most common points of confusion, and it comes up a lot with couples who share an email address and with adult children helping elderly parents.
If you share an email address with your partner, only one of you can use it for myGov. The other person needs a separate email address — a free email account set up just for this purpose works fine.
If you help someone who cannot manage their own account, the proper route is not to share a login. Services Australia offers nominee arrangements — for example, a Centrelink correspondence nominee or payment nominee — so you can act on someone’s behalf using your own myGov account. That keeps everyone’s records separate and above board. If you are already sharing an account, the safest move is to set up the second person’s own account and arrange a nominee setup rather than continuing to share.
What to Do Instead of Opening a Second Account
Almost every reason for wanting a second account has a simpler fix:
- Forgot your password or locked out? Use the sign-in recovery options on my.gov.au, or read our guide on how to fix myGov sign-in problems for step-by-step fixes.
- Lost access to your old email? Update the email address on your existing account once you are signed in, rather than starting over. If you cannot sign in at all, contact the service directly — Services Australia can help you regain access.
- Want a fresh start after a name or email change? Your myGov account stays with you for life, and your details can be updated on it. A new account is not needed.
- Already created a second account by mistake? Keep using the account that has your services linked to it, and ignore or close the spare. Do not delete the account that holds your linked services — contact Services Australia first if you are unsure which one that is.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my partner and I use the same email for two myGov accounts?
No. The same email address cannot be used for two myGov accounts. Each person needs their own email address and their own account.
Can I have a personal myGov account and a business one?
myGov is for individuals accessing government services, not for business accounts as such. Business services have their own portals, and you should not open a second personal myGov account to separate business matters. Use the correct business channel for business dealings instead.
What if I already have two accounts?
Stick with the account that has your services linked to it and use that one consistently. If you are not sure which account holds your services, sign in to each one and check what is linked before you make any changes — and contact Services Australia if you need help sorting it out.
Is it illegal to have two myGov accounts?
Having a second account is not something you will be fined for on its own, but using someone else’s account, or letting someone use yours, breaches myGov’s terms of use. The practical risks — missed messages, failed service links and lockouts — are reason enough to keep just one account.
The Bottom Line
You can only use each email address for one myGov account, and you cannot link the same government service to two accounts. One person, one account, one email — that is the setup that works. If you have lost access to your account, recover it rather than opening a second one, and if you are helping someone else, get them their own account and a proper nominee arrangement instead of sharing a login.
