Key facts
- Registration check
- Free search on the TPB public register
- PI cover, turnover up to $75,000
- At least $250,000
- PI cover, turnover $75,001 to $500,000
- At least $500,000
- PI cover, turnover over $500,000
- At least $1,000,000
- New client timing
- Contact the agent before 31 October for later due dates
- Code obligation
- Agents must keep you informed and manage conflicts
Registration and credentials
The first question is whether they, or their firm, are a registered tax agent. Only registered agents can charge you for preparing returns or giving tax advice, and only their clients get the agent lodgment dates and the ATO's safe harbour from certain penalties. Do not rely on the answer alone: search the TPB public register, which shows whether the registration is current and any conditions on it.
Next ask about professional membership and insurance. Membership of CA ANZ or CPA Australia means the person has met that body's education, experience and CPD standards. The Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) is another professional body you may see. Registered agents who charge fees must hold professional indemnity insurance that meets the TPB's minimums, which rise with the agent's turnover.
- Are you a registered tax agent, and what is your registration number?
- Are you a member of CA ANZ, CPA Australia or the IPA?
- Do you hold a public practice certificate from that body?
- What professional indemnity insurance do you carry?
Experience and fit
An accountant who works with businesses like yours already knows the common deductions, the traps and the questions the ATO tends to ask. Ask how many clients they have in your industry and at your size, and whether they deal with the structures you use, such as a company, trust or self-managed super fund.
Ask what software they work in. If your books are in Xero or MYOB, an accountant who works in the same file can see problems early and saves you exporting reports.
- How many clients like me do you look after?
- Have you dealt with GST, BAS and PAYG instalments for businesses my size?
- Do you work in Xero or MYOB, and in the live file?
- Do you deal with the personal services income rules, trusts or companies?
Fees and what is included
Ask how fees are set: a fixed fee for an agreed scope, an hourly rate or a monthly package. Then ask what is not included, because ATO queries, amendments, prior-year returns and extra meetings are often billed separately. Check whether quotes include GST.
Ask for the scope and fees in writing before work starts. An engagement letter sets out what the firm will do, what you need to provide, how fees are charged and what happens if the scope changes. Fees for preparing your return and for tax advice from a registered agent are tax deductible in the income year you pay them.
Who does the work and how fast they reply
In many firms the person you meet is not the person who prepares your work. That is normal, but you should know who prepares it, who reviews it and who you contact with a question. The Code of Professional Conduct requires agents to make sure work they delegate is done competently and to keep clients informed of relevant matters.
Agree on response times early. Ask how long they usually take to answer an email, how they handle urgent ATO letters and how you send documents securely.
- Who will prepare my work, and who reviews it?
- Who do I contact with a question, and how fast do you reply?
- How do I send documents securely?
- What happens if the ATO contacts me or reviews my return?
Proactive advice or compliance only
Some firms lodge what you give them and nothing more. Others look ahead: they talk to you before 30 June about expected income, timing of purchases and super contributions, and they tell you what to do next rather than only what happened. Ask which approach they take and how often they will contact you outside tax time.
If you are changing accountants, ask how they handle the transfer. The new firm usually writes to your old accountant for your records. The ATO says that if you are using an agent for the first time or switching, you should contact them before 31 October to be part of their lodgment program for that year.
When to get help
Asking these questions of two or three firms usually makes the choice clear. The answers on registration and insurance should be quick and specific; vague answers there are a reason to keep looking.
Acquire Strategic Accounting is a Brisbane firm with offices in Victoria Point and Jimboomba, providing registered tax agent services and working as a Xero Platinum Partner. Our approach is strategy-first: compliance done properly, then used to plan ahead.
Related questions
How do I check if an accountant is a registered tax agent?
Search their name, business name or registration number on the Tax Practitioners Board public register at tpb.gov.au. It is free and shows whether the registration is current and any conditions on it.
Should I get an engagement letter?
Yes. It records what the accountant will do, what you need to provide and how fees are charged. It avoids disputes about scope and fees later and makes it clear who is responsible for what.
Is it a red flag if an accountant promises a big refund?
Yes. The Tax Practitioners Board has warned about unregistered preparers promising unrealistically large refunds, which can leave people with tax bills and penalties later. A good agent will only estimate your result once they have seen your records.
Does my accountant need professional indemnity insurance?
A registered agent who charges fees must hold cover that meets TPB requirements. The minimums are $250,000 for turnover up to $75,000, $500,000 for turnover of $75,001 to $500,000, and $1,000,000 above that.
Should I use the same accountant for my business and personal tax?
Often it helps, because your business profit, drawings and personal return are connected. One adviser who sees the whole picture can plan income across entities and years. The questions on this page apply in the same way to both.
Sources
General information only, current at 31 October 2026. It does not take your circumstances into account. Rates and thresholds change, so check with us or the ATO before you act.
