Starting on 1 July 2024, the registration period for tax practitioners will occur on an annual basis. This new registration process, contained in the Treasury Laws Amendment (2023 Measures No. 1) Act 2023, better aligns with other registration models across the Commonwealth and addresses recommendations arising from the Independent Review into the effectiveness of the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) and the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 (TASA).

How does this impact your registration?

From 1 July 2024, the registration period for tax practitioners is changing from at least once every 3 years to at least once a year. The new annual registration period will apply from your next renewal date that occurs from 1 July 2024. 

The application fee that will be payable for annual registration is currently being determined by government.

Ongoing registration requirements

Annual registration will remove the need for you to submit an annual declaration with us. Annual registration will ensure we have greater ongoing visibility of tax practitioner registrations, which will increase consumer confidence that tax practitioners continue to meet their ongoing registration requirements and only those that should be registered are.

The annual registration period will align with other regulatory obligations, such as maintaining professional indemnity insurance. 

There will be no changes to the continuing professional education (CPE) requirements at this stage – the CPE period will continue to align with your registration date, and the minimum yearly requirement for hours completed will remain at 20 hours for tax and BAS agents. You will also still be able to align your CPE period to that of your recognised professional association.

Registration applications

This change in legislation applies to both new registrations and renewal applications submitted on or after 1 July 2024.

With a shorter registration period, we will now have a maximum of 4 months (previously 6 months) to process and determine the outcome of a new registration application. If an applicant does not receive a final decision within this timeframe, the application is considered rejected. Applicants will have the right of review should their application be rejected. 

For renewal of registration, tax practitioners can continue working under their current registration until we decide the outcome of your renewal application.  

Learn more

• For more information on the annual registration process refer to our frequently asked questions. 
• For more information on Treasury Laws Amendment (2023 Measures No. 1) Act 2023 refer to Important changes to the Tax Agent Services legislation.