Tax agents are considered essential services

As trusted advisers, we are being inundated with requests for information as clients and businesses turn to us to help navigate through uncertainty.

The Institute of Public Accountants view (pending clarification from the assistant treasurer) is: Tax agents are considered essential services for rollout of assistance measures. Therefore, practices should be able to continue providing services if they can practice social distancing.

In summary, we need to:

• Make some changes to how we practice and service clients to practice social distancing. I.e. Zoom, Setmore, Skype, WhatsApp, Google Hangouts, email, phone calls, etc.
• Carry on and support our clients. They need our advice, support and services now more than ever. If their BAS’s are not lodged in April, they won’t be getting any Government stimulus package. If their salary returns are not filed in July, they won’t be getting their tax refunds.
• Carry on and protect our own business and income. If we don’t service our clients through these difficult times, someone else will. The clients will not come back if you don’t support and maintain them now.