TidyTax Tax Practitioner Disclosures
As your Tax Agent, we’re committed to providing our services in line with the Tax Agent Services Act 2009. This means we adhere to the Tax Agent Services (Code of Professional Conduct) Determination 2024. This code requires us to inform you about:
- Our rights, responsibilities, and obligations as your tax practitioner to you, the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB), and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
- Your obligations to the ATO.
Your obligations as a client
It’s your responsibility as a taxpayer to:
- Be truthful with the information you provide your tax practitioner.
- Keep the required records and provide them to your tax practitioner on a timely basis, as required.
- Be co-operative with your tax practitioner’s requests and meet their due date.
- Comply with the tax laws.
Client must meet their obligations
If clients do not meet obligations:
- The ATO may impose administrative penalties (fines).
- Interest charges may be applied.
- In some cases, criminal prosecutions may be sought.
- The ATO may initiate debt recovery.
Tax practitioner obligations and possible penalties
Our obligations Include:
- Act honestly and with integrity.
- Uphold and promote the ethical standards of the tax profession.
- Act lawfully in your best interests.
- Manage any conflicts of interest.
- Take reasonable care to ascertain your state of affairs and apply tax laws correctly.
- Keep your information confidential unless there is a legal duty to disclose.
- Provide services competently.
- Not knowingly obstruct the administration of the tax laws.
- Advise you of your rights and obligations under the tax laws.
- Account to you for money or other property on trust.
- Not make false or misleading statements to the TPB or ATO, and in some cases withdraw their engagement with you and notify the TPB or ATO of certain matters.
- Keep proper records.
- Keep you informed of certain matters so you can make informed decisions.
- Address any false or misleading statements they are responsible for.
- Engage with clients to address other false or misleading statements, exploring options to correct.
If we don’t meet our obligations
If your tax practitioner fails to meet their obligations:
- Their registration can be suspended or terminated, meaning they can’t practice.
- They could receive a caution or orders from the TPB – for example, undertaking education or working under the supervision of another registered tax practitioner.
- Fines may be imposed on them by the Federal Court.
- Your tax and superannuation matters may not be accurate.
- You may be subject to enquiries or audits.
- Any tax shortfalls may attract penalties and interest.
- You may have litigation options to review decisions and to recover debts.
- In the case of fraud or criminality, penalties may lead to prosecutions.
Information about the TPB Register
To support you make the right decisions about any tax practitioner, the TPB maintains a public register. You can identify registered BAS agents and tax agents, as well as those who are in your locality. The TPB’s Register also provides important information about higher risk cases, where the TPB has imposed serious sanctions on a tax practitioner. Further information about the register can be found at: tpb.gov.au/help-using-tpb-register.
Please beware of individuals or firms who are not registered but falsely present themselves as tax agents. Only registered agents are legally allowed to charge a fee to prepare and lodge tax returns on your behalf. Check who is assisting you with your tax return is a registered agent through the link, tpb.gov.au/help-using-tpb-register.
How to make a complaint
We take complaints seriously. If you have a complaint regarding our tax agent services, please contact us on admin@tidytax.com.au, and we will attempt to resolve your complaint as soon as practicable. If you are unhappy with the outcome, you may contact our team on 0431 872 172.
You may also make a complaint about a tax practitioner to the TPB using a simple online form at: tpb.gov.au/complaints
Complaints can also be made about unregistered preparers who are not complying with the law. All complaints and referrals are assessed by the TPB. Further information about the TPB complaints process is available at: tpb.gov.au/complaints
Prescribed events within the last 5 years
If certain prescribed events have occurred within the last 5 years, we must advise you of this at the time you make enquiries to engage or reengage us to provide tax services. Otherwise, we must notify you within 30 days of us becoming aware of the matter. Prescribed events include if the tax practitioner was:
- Suspended or terminated by the TPB.
- An undischarged bankrupt or went into external administration.
- Convicted of a serious taxation offence or an offence involving fraud or dishonesty.
- Serving or sentenced to a term of imprisonment in Australia for 6 months or more.
This disclosure obligation extends to prospective clients – for example, a taxpayer seeking a quote for tax agent services.
Registration subject to conditions
We must advise you if your tax practitioner’s registration is subject to conditions (e.g. they can only provide tax services related to research and development or tax (financial) advice services).
We must notify you of this at the time you are making inquiries to engage or re-engage us to provide you with tax services. Otherwise, we must notify you within 30 days of us becoming aware of the matter.
Disclaimer
We have crafted the information on this website with careful attention to detail, aiming to provide helpful insights into tax and loan matters. However, it’s essential to understand that this content is intended for general informational purposes only. Think of it as a starting point, a resource to broaden your understanding, rather than a substitute for personalized, professional advice.
Your specific financial situation is unique, and navigating tax and loan decisions requires a tailored approach. That’s why we strongly recommend consulting with a qualified advisor who can assess your individual needs and provide guidance relevant to your circumstances. While we strive for accuracy and regularly update our content, the world of finance is constantly evolving, and information can change rapidly.
Therefore, TidyTax Pty Ltd and TidyTax cannot guarantee the absolute accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented here. We are not responsible for any actions taken or decisions made based solely on the content of this website, including any errors or omissions that may occur. We encourage you to use this website as a tool for general knowledge, but to always seek professional advice before making any financial commitments.
We value your trust and appreciate your understanding as we work to provide you with valuable information while upholding our commitment to responsible and ethical practices.
Ready to Get Started?
We are here to help you navigate your tax obligations with confidence. If you have any questions about this information or are ready to proceed with our tax services, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.