The Tax Office is advising taxpayers to check that their tax agent is registered with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) before entrusting them with their tax returns.
The ATO is concerned about a number of people claiming to be tax agents, often promising refunds that sound too good to be true, or providing discounted services much cheaper than legitimate registered tax agents.
“These unregistered preparers pose a threat to vulnerable taxpayers and risk the reputation of registered tax agents,” assistant commissioner Karen Foat said.
“They pretend to offer legitimate services to the community, but in reality they pose a serious threat not only to the people that use them, but to the broader community and the tax system as a whole.”
The ATO has seen an increased number of people unwittingly using an unregistered preparer, which has resulted in a significant tax debt and loss of money.
“We also see instances where people do not receive their refund, or where fraudulent claims are lodged in their name without their knowledge,” Ms Foat said.
Unregistered preparers often use a taxpayer’s personal login details to access their ATO Online account through myGov to lodge tax returns. The Tax Office warned that a legitimate tax practitioner will never ask for your myGov credentials – they use dedicated ATO online services to lodge returns for their clients.
“To protect yourself and keep your personal information safe, it is important to check with the TPB to see if an agent is registered. You can easily check an agent’s registration online at TPB.gov.au,” Ms Foat said.
“Remember, only registered tax agents can charge a fee to prepare and lodge your tax return.”
