Joint media release between the Tax Practitioners Board and The Professional Standards Councils

The Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) and the Professional Standards Councils (the ‘Councils’) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

The MOU will help guide the collaboration, cooperation, and mutual assistance between both organisations with the objective of promoting the integrity of the tax profession.

Speaking about the MOU, TPB Chair, Mr Ian Klug AM, said that the MOU was significant as it would help signal valuable ways that the TPB and the Councils would work together in the future.

‘We welcome the creation of the MOU as it establishes a framework for greater collaboration with the Councils. Through it we hope to achieve shared goals, minimise duplication and provide increased consumer protection for the legislative schemes that we administer’, Mr Klug said.

Chair of the Councils, Mr John Vines OAM, said that the creation of the MOU supported the efforts of the Councils and TPB to work together to ensure services are delivered to consumers by competent and ethical tax professionals. 

‘This first MOU with the TPB fulfils the Councils’ strategic commitment to streamline regulatory efforts with peer regulators for better consumer protection outcomes. The MOU reflects a partnership approach to creating opportunities to share insights and to work with professional associations in a flexible and streamlined way that enhances community confidence’, Mr Vines said. 

Mr Klug added that the MOU recognised the important role the Councils had played in their shared commitment to the recently formed Tax Practitioner Governance and Standards Forum (TPGSF). The formation of the TPGSF was a key recommendation following the independent review of the TPB and the Tax Agent Services Act 2009. The TPGSF includes representatives from professional associations, the TPB, the Australian Taxation Office and the Councils. 

Mr Vines welcomed the opportunity for the Councils to contribute to the work of the Forum. 

About the Tax Practitioners Board

The Tax Practitioners Board regulates tax practitioners in order to protect consumers. The TPB aims to assure the community that tax practitioners meet appropriate standards of professional and ethical conduct. Follow us on Twitter @TPB_gov_au, Facebook and LinkedIn.

About the Professional Standards Councils

The Professional Standards Councils and its agency, the Professional Standards Authority, work to improve professional standards and protect consumers of professional services across Australia.

The Professional Standards Councils are independent statutory bodies established in each state and territory. They have specific responsibilities under professional standards legislation for assessing and approving applications for, and supervising the application of, Professional Standards Schemes. 

Learn more about the Councils. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.