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Jun 2019

outsourcing-to-a-tax-agent-complying-with-the-code

Outsourcing work offshore to an Australian tax agent – complying with the Code of Professional Conduct

By: Odyssey Outsourcing
Tags: Australian tax compliance, Code of Professional conduct

This week I was listening to the TPB webinars and a recent webinar on “Work related expense claims”.

The webinars are a great way to keep up to date with the TPB’s latest initiatives and thinking, while at the same time getting some Continuing Professional Obligations to meet the CPE requirements.

The link is here for those interested → TPB webinars on Youtube

The webinar mentioned the Code of Professional Conduct for Tax agents, which I’m sure many Australian accounting firm owners have read at least a couple of times.

You can find the link here: Code of Professional Conduct for Tax agents

What’s interesting, is that there are plenty of key concepts that ensure quality services provided by Australian tax agents, and to which Odyssey (also an Australian tax agent) must comply.

We’re all aware of the key headings of the Code of Professional conduct as they relate to sending work offshore.

(1) You must act honestly and with integrity (fit and proper person requirement)

(7) You must ensure that a tax agent service is provided competently

(8) You must maintain knowledge and skills relevant to the tax agent services you provide

(10) You must take reasonable care to ensure that taxation laws are applied correctly

Odyssey, as an Australian tax agent, is subject to the same conditions as any other Australian tax agent.

That is, we are required to prepare and perform work to a high quality standard, and comply with the TPB Code of Professional conduct.

And that’s one of the reasons why Odyssey has a reputation for the provision of Quality Australian taxation compliance services.

The Philippines offshore labour hire services (who are not Australian registered tax agents) are not required to comply with the Australian TPB Code of Professional Conduct.

That effectively means the Australian tax agent is responsible for adequate supervision, reasonable care, and the provision of tax work to competent standards. There is no come back to the offshore labour hire services when quality is absent. The buck stops with the Australian tax agent. Full stop.

Needless to say, Odyssey works with Quality Australian accounting firms to ensure the highest quality work for Australian taxpayers.

If you need help with some Quality Australian accounting and taxation outsourcing, then drop Odyssey a line and we’ll show you how Outsourcing your compliance work can assist

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