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In a shift in tactics, the accounting body has launched a grassroots campaign to support practitioners protesting the code of conduct changes.
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CA ANZ urges members to lobby MPs against new agent rules
24 July 2024
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CA ANZ is mobilising members to write letters to their local MPs in a new advocacy approach to raise concerns over recent changes to the tax agent code of conduct.
In a “call to action” addressed to members this week, CA ANZ released materials including a letter template and lists of local representatives for members to protest the changes.
“Support our call for the withdrawal of the code of professional conduct determination, send a letter to your local member of parliament.”
It comes three weeks after a legislative instrument from Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones modified the code to give practitioners eight new obligations from 1 August.
News of the changes caused an uproar in the tax community, with CA ANZ, alongside nine other professional bodies, penning an open letter Jones last week demanding the instrument’s withdrawal.
The grassroots letter campaign marks a shift in the accounting body's advocacy tactics, which Simon Grant, group executive for advocacy and international development, said was prompted by members.
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“CA ANZ has been receiving calls from our members who work in smaller firms for us to support them to reach out to their local MP on this issue,” he said.
“Members are concerned that their current workload of meeting their clients’ tax obligations combined with a lack of staff resources will mean they cannot update their quality management systems in time for the 1 August 2024 deadline.”
“We will continue our advocacy on this issue.”
The letter reiterated concerns around the legislative instrument, including the tight timeline for implementation and expanded disclosure obligations that could infringe on practitioners' privacy.
It said that new confidentiality rules could also force tax agents to report clients to the ATO without consent, potentially damaging client relationships and exposing practitioners to legal risks.
“The determination, as it stands, will be difficult to comply with and has the potential to have significant impacts on my work and practice,” the letter to MPs said.
“I urge you to withdraw the existing determination, and resume consultation on the above issues of serious concern in the determination.”
“It needs significant re-consideration and re-work to remove the uncertainty and inconsistency tax and BAS agents face in trying to comply with the determination.”
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