Tax accountant questions start with one check, and it takes two minutes. Ask if the person is registered with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB). Then ask about fees, scope and deadlines. This guide gives you the list, in plain words, before tax time arrives.
Why registration comes first
In Australia, anyone who charges a fee to prepare or lodge your tax return must be a registered tax agent. The title "accountant" does not settle this. An accountant who belongs to a professional association still has to be registered with the TPB to do tax agent work for a fee.
The TPB keeps a free public register. Search it by name or registration number. It lists registered tax agents and BAS agents. It also shows any conditions on a registration, which limit the services a person may offer.
You can also ask a friend or relative to help with your return. They cannot charge you for it. Only registered tax agents can.
Questions to ask about their registration
Do not take a name or a logo on trust. Ask for the registration number and look it up on the public register yourself.
- What is your TPB registration number?
- Are you a tax agent or a BAS agent?
- Does your registration carry any conditions?
The last two matter. A BAS agent can prepare business activity statements but cannot prepare and lodge income tax returns. A tax agent can do both. Check that the agent you meet matches the job you need done.
Be wary of any adviser who cannot give you a registration number. Check the register yourself before you hand over records, and ask the adviser to explain anything you do not follow.
Questions about fees and scope
The TPB suggests you talk through the work before it starts. Raise these points:
- What will the work cost? If there is no fixed price, ask for the fee structure.
- What is included? A simple individual return is different from a return with rental income, shares or a sole trader business.
- Do you also handle my ABN, GST or business activity statements?
- Where will my refund be sent, and how long can I expect to wait?
Many registered practitioners ask you to sign a letter of engagement. It sets out what each side must do. Read it and keep a copy. If a fee is not in writing, ask for it in writing.
Ask what you must supply and by when. Your agent can only work with the records you hand over. Bank interest, income statements, receipts and private health details are common items.
Questions about timing
Timing is worth settling before work starts. The TPB suggests you talk about the timing of the work, along with the scope, the fees and where any refund will go. Agree dates in advance, so neither side is guessing.
So the useful questions are simple:
- When do you need my records to lodge on time?
- Are you taking new clients now, or is there a wait?
- Can you help with a late or missing return from an earlier year?
Asking early gives both sides room. An agent who is rushed has less time to chase missing papers, so ask well before you need the return done.
What to do if something goes wrong
Raise the problem with the practitioner first, if you can. Registered practitioners must tell clients how to complain to the TPB, so ask if you are unsure how. Keep your emails, invoices and the engagement letter. They help show what was agreed.
One limit of this list: a registration confirms that a person is allowed to work as a tax agent. It does not tell you whether they will suit your situation. Use the questions above to judge fit, and talk to more than one person if the answers feel vague.