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An ad campaign warns the public against unscrupulous operators and urges legitimate practices to display its logo.
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Make sure you’re registered, TPB tells agents
07 June 2022
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The TPB has begun an ad campaign encouraging the public to “find a tax agent you can trust” by making sure their agent is registered.
It also urges businesses and individuals to look out for the TPB’s official logo, which identifies the type of tax practitioner – tax agent or BAS agent – and displays their registration number.
The campaign, which is running online, on social media and radio, features a range of people who might offer to help, such as friends or family acquaintances, and cautions against using them without checking.
On the ad, flip the icon for “A BAS agent or financial adviser offering tax return services”, for example, and the message is, “Only registered tax agents can legally prepare and lodge tax returns on behalf of clients” accompanied by a sad face emoji.
Other examples of people to avoid include practitioners registered overseas or “unscrupulous agents” promising the largest refund.
The TPB has previously encouraged tax agents to download and display their unique registration symbol, which can be obtained from the board’s website.
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Authorised representatives can access the appropriate symbol using the login of their associated registered tax practitioner.
The TPB said the risks of straying into unqualified territory include an incorrect return that results in a tax shortfall and consequent ATO penalties on the taxpayer.
“The practitioner may not have appropriate professional indemnity insurance cover to compensate you if you suffer loss due to an act, error or omission that results from a service they provide,” the TPB said.
It also cautions against sharing myGov passwords because it “puts your personal and financial affairs at risk”.
Other examples of potential slip-ups in the ad include involving former tax agents in a return, where people “run the risk of receiving outdated tax advice that doesn’t follow current best practices” and even accountants with appropriate letters following their names.
“Accountants belonging to a professional association must still be registered with the TPB to provide tax agent services legally if they charge a fee or receive a reward for their services,” it said.
Asking a family member or friend to help with your return is only OK only if they do not charge a fee.
The ad provides a handy link to check the TPB register and the campaign runs until the end of June.
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