Tax and BAS Agents in Australia, for the overwhelming most part are:
- Small business owners (or work for a small business)
- Individuals who act with integrity and honesty when faced regularly with ethical quandaries
- Employers of hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life
- Humans working long hours helping their clients navigate an ever-increasing complex taxation system
- The crucial players in ensuring the Australian tax system does not fall over, fall behind or become impossible to implement
Today, in session, Senator Barbara Pocock portrayed us as out-of-control renegades who need to be reined in, citing recent PWC events. PWC and the goings-on with their unethical Government consulting are so far removed from the daily work of most Australian tax agents that it really isn't funny (or relevant to many). Yet the proposed legislation would heavily impact the businesses and obligations of so many small Australian Tax and BAS agents.
Unfortunately, the motion to disallow Tax Agent Services (Code of Professional Conduct) Determination 2024 was defeated with a split vote of 31/31.
Let's hope the Government will now (genuinely) come to the party to work with the accounting industry bodies and reps on something fair and workable. Something that recognises that tax agents are, in the majority, not Big 4 opportunists or dodgy cover-up merchants but giving, honest, and hard-working members of society who deserve fair and practical legislation to operate within.
Thanks to Dean Smith, Gerard Rennick and others who voted for the Ayes today.