ACCA is approved as a recognised tax agent association by the Australian Tax Practitioners Board since 12 November 2019.

Under the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 (the Act), Tax and Business Activity Statement (BAS) agents must be registered with the TPB if they wish to provide tax agent or BAS services for a fee or other reward in Australia. “Tax agent services” and “BAS services” are defined.

A registered tax agent can offer both tax agent and BAS services. A registered BAS agent may offer only BAS services.

ACCA members offering contract accounting services (e.g. ascertaining BAS liabilities and related advice) for a fee should be aware that they could be required to register as a BAS agent.

ACCA members in Australia applying to the TPB to be a registered tax agent are required by the TPB to meet specific CPD and PII cover requirements in order to qualify and to maintain registration as a tax agent.

Australian Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) registration

As part of the tax agent registration, a number of criteria have to be met. There are six options for registration based on applicants’ qualifications and experience items 201 to 206. 

The process for registering is the same for an ACCA member as for a CA ANZ member so joining CA ANZ will not simplify the process. 

ACCA members with 8 years’ relevant tax experience in the past 10 years may apply under item 206 (Membership of a Recognised Tax Agent Association). The TPB has advised that relevant tax experience may include tax experience obtained by members in legislative regimes similar to Australia (such as UK) in combination with experience of Australian taxation. This route is advantageous as no further education courses are necessary. Evidence of ACCA membership will be required. 

ACCA members without 8 years’ experience may apply under item 201 (tertiary qualifications in accountancy). To apply under item 201, you need:

·         one year’s relevant tax experience in the past 5 years (tax experience obtained by members in legislative regimes similar to Australia in combination with experience of Australian taxation may be recognised);

·         board approved courses in Australian taxation law;

·         board approved courses in commercial law; and

·         an equivalence certificate from NOOSR.

Providers of the tax and law courses, including online courses.

For further information on the application process email -  anzinfo@accaglobal.com

TPB’s approval of ACCA as a Recognised Tax Agent Association draws attention to two specific ongoing obligations for ACCA members in Australia who are tax agents. These are CPD requirements and professional indemnity insurance (PII). 

CPD

Item 203(a) in Schedule 1 to the Tax Agent Services Regulations 2009 (TASR) concerns the requirement that members undertake an appropriate number of hours of continuing professional education (CPE) each year relevant to the circumstances and requirements of the members. The TPB notes the importance of keeping up to date with Australian taxation law, observing that ACCA members who wish to be registered with the TPB will need to meet the TPB’s CPE requirements.

Although the TPB has acknowledged ACCA assurances around our approach to CPD, it still requires any ACCA member registered as a tax or BAS agent to maintain records in such a way that they can demonstrate that they meet the TPB’s inputs-based 'appropriate number of hours' requirements.

The TPB’s policy requires tax agents to complete a minimum of 90 hours of CPE within a standard three-year registration period, with a minimum of 10 hours each year. For more details see The TPB’s CPE policy for members practising in Australia. 

PII

Item 203(e) in Schedule 1 to the TASR requires a member who is permitted by an organisation to be in public practice to have PII.

The TPB also requires ACCA members who wish to be registered tax agents in Australia to meet the criteria set out within the TPB’s specific PII requirements.