Registering as an individual tax (financial) adviser

If you provide tax advice or advice on tax consequences as part of your financial advice to clients for a fee or reward, you must be registered with us as a tax (financial) adviser.

Requirements for registration

You must be at least 18 years old.
You must be a fit and proper person.
You maintain, or will be able to maintain, professional indemnity insurance that meets our requirements.
You must meet the qualifications and relevant experience requirements. This includes that you are, or have been, an Australian financial services (AFS) licensee or a representative of an AFS licensee within the 90 days preceding your application.

Applying for registration

You must complete an online application and provide the supporting documentation.

Checklist - information you need to apply to register
If you are covered by a professional indemnity insurance policy and: you have your own policy, you will need your policy number, name of insurer, start and end date of the policy and the amount of cover, or you are covered by the policy of another registered tax practitioner, you will need their name and registration number.
A statement of relevant experience to show you have the required experience.
Electronic copies of the certificates and academic transcripts, as required, to show you have completed the required qualifications.
Details of any events that may affect your eligibility for registration, including overdue tax obligations.
Your tax file number (TFN) and/or Australian Business Number (ABN). Providing this information will assist us to process your application.
Membership number of a recognised tax agent or tax (financial) adviser association if applicable. Evidence of your voting membership may also be required in some circumstances to support your application.

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Application fee

You must pay the application fee in full before you submit your application for registration:

$400 - if you are carrying on a business as a tax (financial) adviser
$200 - if you are not carrying on a business as tax (financial) adviser.

For information on making a payment refer How to pay your tax (financial) adviser application fee

After lodging your application

We will advise you after the decision is made to either grant or reject your application.

If your application is granted, you will be registered for at least three years from the date we make our decision. We will:

advise you of any condition(s) we impose on your registration
include details of your registration on the TPB Register
notify the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) of our decision to grant your registration.

If your application is rejected, we will:

advise you of the reasons for our decision and of your appeal rights
notify ASIC and ATO of our decision to reject your application.

Further information

Last modified: 1 July 2017