From 1 July 2025, new professional standards from the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) will take effect under the Tax Agent Services Act (TASA).
At Cardell Chartered Accountants, we already follow high professional standards, so most changes will be minor. However, you may notice:
These updates aim to improve transparency and protect your rights as a client. We’ll let you know if any action is needed on your part.
Here’s what to expect:
Engagement Letters
Starting 1 July 2025, under new TASA rules, taxpayers must sign their own engagement letter — even if they’re part of a family group or business we've worked with before.
This change ensures:
As a result, you may receive a separate engagement letter to sign, even if someone else in your group has already accepted theirs.
More Structured Communication
Under the new standards, we’re now required to formally notify you if something arises that could significantly impact the scope of our services.
While we’ve always kept clients informed, these changes establish a clearer and more consistent communication process to ensure you're always up to date.
Stronger Documentation Requirements
You’ll see clearer language in our engagement letters, outlining what’s included, what’s not, your rights, and how to raise concerns. We may also request more detailed documentation to support certain claims or deductions, as we’re now required to keep more evidence on file.
These steps help meet stricter compliance standards and protect you in the event of an ATO review — while maintaining the same trusted support.
Your Rights and Access to Information
Under the new standards, you have the right to raise concerns or make complaints about our services. We are committed to transparency and accessibility.
Key information about our registration and responsibilities is available on our website for you to review anytime.
Tax Agent Registration
Cardell Chartered Accountants (TAN 17404006) is registered with the Tax Practitioners Board to provide tax agent services. You can verify our registration via the public register at www.tpb.gov.au/public-register
Complaints Process
If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our service, we encourage you to contact us directly:
contact@cardell.com.au
(03) 5672 3722
If your concerns remain unresolved, you are entitled to lodge a formal complaint with the Tax Practitioners Board. Further information is available at www.tpb.gov.au/complaints
New Rules on Client Conduct
We are now formally required to stop acting for clients who knowingly provide false or misleading information or refuse to comply with tax laws. This reinforces our ethical standards and is an explicit requirement under the updated Code of Professional Conduct.
More Information
You can read more about the changes introduced by the TPB here:
https://www.tpb.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-03/Information%20for%20clients%20factsheet%202025_0.pdf
If you have any questions or want to discuss these updates further, please don’t hesitate to reach out.