How to register - Tax agent

The tax agent services regime regulates a broader range of services than the previous law. The new legislation also introduced a wider range of sanctions against providing services when unregistered, such as civil penalties. It is important that entities, including individuals, are aware of the means to become registered.

There are three ways in which a potential tax agent can become registered.

Regardless of which of these options are used, the same outcome is achieved - agents are registered.

Options to become registered as a tax agent

1	Transitional notification If you were not required to be registered under the old law, but are required to be registered under the new law you can NOTIFY under Special Rule 4	Notification date has now passed
2	Transitional application If you were unregistered and have been providing tax agent services within a particular area of the taxation law you can APPLY under Special Rule 13	Option available until 31 August 2010
3	Standard application Anyone who needs to become registered can APPLY under the TASA	Option always available

All individuals seeking to be registered as a tax agent must meet the fit and proper person requirement. The Board can also impose conditions on registration and may require professional indemnity insurance coverage from 1 July 2011.

The new legislation provides greater flexibility to include tax agents who specialise in a particular area of taxation law, for example research and development specialists.

There are some tax agent service providers that are not required to register with the Board. Employees who provide a tax agent service to their employer do not need to register as a tax agent. The Government has recently announced that a limited category of potential agents, which include in-house advisers and custodians, are also exempt from the regime.