Issued: 5 February 2026
Last modified: 5 February 2026
Are you confident your practice is protected against compliance risks? Join our upcoming webinar to learn practical strategies for safeguarding your business and clients. We’ll cover engaging with disqualified entities and tame agents, avoiding high-risk arrangements impacting vulnerable taxpayers and best practices for client verification and proof of identity.
Webinar resources
Webinar recording
Questions and answers
We have compiled some of the questions we received during our webinar.
Disqualified entities (DE)
Is there a register for DE on the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) website?
The TPB does not maintain a separate register of disqualified entities. However, our Public Register includes information that may indicate a disqualifying event has occurred within the last 5 years (i.e. a sanction). Some disqualifying events are not published on the Public Register so we require tax practitioners to ensure individuals are aware of the requirements under the Code of Professional Conduct (Code) and complete the Disqualifying events declaration and consent form.
What criteria does the TPB use to decide on whether to approve the engagement of a DE?
When considering whether to approve the use or employment of a DE, the TPB accesses the information provided in the DE application form including:
- the reasons why the entity is a disqualified entity and the circumstances surrounding those reasons
- the role (or proposed role) the entity performs (or would perform) in providing the tax agent services
- the relevance of the disqualifying event to the entity’s ability to perform the proposed role to an appropriate professional and ethical standard.
The TPB also considers any other matters relevant under the Tax Agent Services Act 2009, including information available to us beyond that contained in the application.
If an entity has been deregistered by ASIC, are they considered a DE?
An entity will be considered a DE if one of the specified disqualifying events has occurred within the past five years.
While deregistration by ASIC is not, in itself, a listed disqualifying event, the circumstances leading to deregistration made be relevant in determining whether the entity meets the definition of a DE.
For specific examples refer to Events that will disqualify an entity.
Proof of identity (POI)
Are POI requirements necessary if I take on a new client whom I have known personally for many years?
You must exercise your professional judgement when determining whether to undertake checks.
In some circumstances, it may not be practical or necessary to undertake POI checks for a well-established client. However, you should assess the risks at the time and determine whether conducting POI checks is appropriate.
If you decide that POI is not required, you must document the reasons for that decision.
For more information, refer to the ‘Well-established clients’ section in our guidance.
Are you required to retain copies of the documents used for the POI verification process?
You are not required you to retain copies or originals of identification documents used to verify a client or their representative.
However, you should maintain a record of the POI process undertaken. This must include:
- date and time when checks were conducted
- types of identification documents sighted
- how the documents were verified
- who in the practice conducted the checks.
Records should also confirm that the identification documents were clear and legible, identified the client (and their representative, if applicable) and there was no apparent reason to question their authenticity.
These records must be retained for at least 5 years after the engagement with the client and/or their representative ceases.
For more information, refer to our POI FAQs.