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"A Systematic Approach to Bookkeeping"
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Certification

Context Introduction

You are required to register as a BAS Agent (or a Tax Agent) if you are providing BAS services for a fee or reward.

A BAS Agent is issued a licence that says they can advise a client, provide certainty to a client or represent that client to the tax office in relation to:

  • All GST matters
  • All Wine Tax, Fuel Tax, Luxury Car Tax matters
  • Payment of FBT
  • All aspects of Payroll that relate to the withholding of tax amounts and the reporting of that amount to the employee and the Tax office
  • All aspects of other PAYG Withholding amounts: ie no ABN, Interest & Dividend
  • All aspects of the payment of income tax via PAYG Instalments
  • All aspects of the Taxable Payments Annual Reporting system
  • All aspects of Superannuation Guarantee system as related to payroll & the Charge
  • A Tax Agent can also do these and then other areas of tax also.

What does this mean?

A registered Agent may:

  • Design and set up compliance systems
  • Advise the client on how the above areas of law effect them
  • Review a client’s operations in relation to these areas of law and provide certainty to that client that they are getting it right
  • These tasks cannot be done by a bookkeeper who is not a registered Agent.

So, what can a Bookkeeper do who is not a BAS Agent?

  • They can follow systems designed by others
  • They can process
  • They can reconcile and produce results but not if the client is relying on those, without further action to be certain that they are meeting their obligation
  • They should raise questions and not answer them

Source: Institute of Certified Bookkeepers