Strategic Statement 2009-12

Our commitment to the community

To provide consumer protection to clients of  tax practitioner services by reducing the level of uncertainty and risks for people through a new, national, independent regulatory regime for tax agent services.

Our stakeholder commitments

·         To be independent, fair, consistent and flexible.

·         To be clear and transparent in our processes and decision making.

·         To be reliable in applying the law and having guidelines that support a strong regulatory framework for tax practitioners and reduces uncertainty and risks for consumers.

·         To work collaboratively within the tax industry.

·         To be open and accountable.

Our business intent

To strengthen the integrity of the tax system and tax industry by including all tax practitioners and regulating them fairly, consistently and with flexibility.

The use and reliance of practitioners in the tax system has grown steadily with self assessment.  In recognition of their role in the tax system, practitioners must be supported and regulated in an appropriate but flexible way, with incentives to enter the system.

Our strategies for the next three years

·         Establish a new, independent tax practitioners board that will replace existing state-based boards and then introduce a consistent regulatory framework.

·         Broaden the regulatory framework across the tax industry, bringing in BAS Agents and other restricted service providers.

·         Provide a code of conduct that clearly provides high standards and expectations for professionals providing tax agent services.  This will reduce uncertainty and risks for consumers.

·         Apply consistent sanctions for those who deliberately do not comply with the law, including civil penalties and injunctions.

·         Provide safe harbour provisions from certain administrative penalties in certain circumstances.

Our Business Model

Individuals and businesses rely on tax practitioners

Through our independence and safe harbour provisions, we will create and maintain the right regulatory framework to support self-assessment and uphold integrity of the tax system and profession.

We register tax practitioners

Our national registration system will ensure tax practitioners have the necessary education and qualifications for tax agent service delivery.

We provide assurance on the regulatory framework

Our processes will ensure tax practitioners are provided with support to maintain a high standard of service to consumers. Our Code of Conduct will apply appropriate treatments and interventions to the tax industry.

We have the right internal capability to support the ATPB

Our people must have the capabilities and right attitude to deliver our business intent. We will look for ways of simplifying processes and reducing the burden on tax practitioners and consumers.

We strengthen the tax industry and tax system

We will work collaboratively with tax practitioners and consumers to build a robust, fair and consistent national tax practitioners regulatory framework.