The Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) has moved to extend its membership footprint by creating a designation for Business Activity Statement (BAS) agents.
The IPA announced the move late last week, saying it had "revitalized" its bookkeeper/BAS Agent designation "in recognition of the valuable contribution registered BAS agents make to the Australian economy".
Commenting on the move, IPA chief executive Andrew Conway said the move had been undertaken in direct response to member feedback.
"Our move to review and overhaul our existing bookkeeper practice certificate (BPC) is a direct reflection of considerable member feedback and changes to the BAS practitioner sector, including the establishment of the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB)," he said. "The market has moved significantly following the introduction of the new system, and this is yet another example of how the IPA is breaking new ground."
Conroy said the IPA considered that many practitioners providing bookkeeping services would, in the course of that work, be providing BAS services and would need to be registered as BAS agents.
"The introduction of the TPB has seen the bar raised in the registration requirements for tax and BAS agents," he said.
Conroy said holders of a Public BAS Practitioner certification must satisfy education and experience requirements at least equivalent to the minimum required for registration as a BAS agent under the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 (TASA).
