Proof of Identity

We'd love to think we all live and work in a world where everybody is honest and acts with integrity - but between technology and the prospect of money refunded from the ATO, not everyone is so above board.

To protect you from improper use of your personal details, and as part of our compulsory procedures, we do some simple identity checks for all new clients. Below are examples of the documents we may need to see.

Individuals and Sole Traders

This step applies to every person we act for OR take instructions from.

We need to check: Name, address and date of birth

You need to show: Primary photographic ID - Drivers' License or Passport

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Primary non-photographic ID - birth or citizenship certificate, Government healthcare or concession card

AND

Secondary ID - Medicare Card, ATO or Centrelink document (from last 12 months), Council or Utility bill (from last 3 months), Electoral Roll confirmation or letter from School Principal (if under 18)

Partnerships, Spouse Returns, Powers of Attourney, Estate Executors, etc

If you deal with us on behalf of another person, including your spouse/partner, business partner, family member or other person, we owe it to them as well as you to confirm that you have their authority to do so. This authority may be as simple as "you take care of it please" or it may arise from a legal arrangement.

We need to check: you are authorised to instruct us on behalf of the other person

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You need to show: direct authority from the client, original or certified Birth or Guardianship papers (for a child under 18), Court orders or Will/Probate, Power of Attorney, partnership agreement

Where we act for or advise a company or trust, part of our duty is to ensure we deal with the appropriate people.

If someone takes care of the finances for the company or trust who is not named on the current legal documentation (e.g. shown on the ASIC records), we will check in with the persons legally responsible to confirm what kinds of matters they are authorised to deal with.

1. We need to check: the name, ACN/ABN and address of the company or trust

2. We need to check: you are authorised to instruct us on behalf of the company or trust

Companies and Trusts

You need to show: current ASIC or ABR extract or constitution/deed,utility bills (last 3 months) or ATO correspondence (last 12 months) showing business address

You need to show: ASIC records, employment documents showing relevant responsibilities, public information listing your name as contact, direct authority from director/trustee

From 1 July 2023, this must be done before connecting to your ATO record, so naturally we can't give specific tax advice or estimates before this step. We may ask existing clients for a quick check where there are significant changes in their circumstances.

We aim to keep this process friendly, positive and as painless as possible, which is why we ask you to have original or certified copies of documents and ID available for our initial meeting.

Please do not send copies of photo or detailed ID via email. This is not regarded as a safe move, not to mention that this would not satisfy our obligations without a physical or video meeting.

We are not required to retain any copies, but do need to make notes of the kinds of verification you provide. These requirements are based on the Tax Practitioners' Board's guidelines as at July 2023.

Your privacy is important to us, as is protecting all of us from potential identity theft and fraudulent activity.