Articles

Issued: 1 July 2025

Last modified: 1 July 2025

The Treasury undertook public consultation last year on the following reforms to the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 (TASA):

These reforms form part of the government’s response to the PwC matter and seek to strengthen the TPB’s regulatory powers. These reforms also build on the recommendations and findings from the 2019 independent review (Review) into the effectiveness of the TPB and TASA aimed at enhancing the tax agent services regulatory framework.

Further to the government’s announcement in the Federal Budget in March 2025, Treasury have now announced the outcomes of their consultations and confirmed that government will consult on exposure draft legislation for implementing these reforms. The timing of this consultation will be subject to government priorities. We will share more information on these consultations, when announced, so you can have your say to shape the implementation of these changes.

Once the legislation has been passed by parliament, the TPB will begin consultation on relevant administrative policies and guidance required to support these reforms.

Enhancing the sanctions regime

The proposed start date of the new changes to enhance the sanctions regime is 1 July 2026. The changes that will be put in place include: 

  • reintroducing criminal penalties for unregistered preparers
  • increasing maximum civil penalties amounts in the TASA
  • adding infringement notice penalties for alleged contraventions of the TASA
  • introducing enforceable voluntary undertakings  
  • creating contingent and interim suspensions
  • broadening civil penalties for breaches of the Code and for false or misleading statements made by unregistered preparers
  • extending the maximum banning period to 10 years.

Modernising tax practitioner registration requirements

The proposed start date of the new changes to enhance the registrations framework is 1 July 2027. The changes that will be put in place include: 

  • allowing the TPB to assess exceptions and adding longer, alternative timeframes to gain relevant experience
  • amending the fit and proper person test by requiring disclosure of spent convictions relevant to providing tax practitioner services and extending the timeframe the TPB considers
  • requiring companies and partnerships to demonstrate they have appropriate governance arrangements in place to be registered.