A BAS Agent is issued a license 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
What can a BAS Agent do?
| Service | BAS service |
| Applying to the Registrar for an ABN on behalf of a client. | X |
| Coding transactions, tax invoices and transferring data onto a computer program for clients through processes that require the interpretation or application of a BAS provision. | X |
| Confirming figures to be included on a client’s activity statement. | X |
| Completing activity statements on behalf of an entity or instructing the entity which figures to include. | X |
| Confirming the withholding tax obligations for the employees of a client. | X |
| Services declared to be a BAS service by way of a legislative instrument issued by the TPB. | X |
| Preparation and provision of a payment summary that may include reportable fringe benefits amounts and the reportable employer superannuation contributions, | X |
| Registering or providing advice on registration for GST or PAYG withholding. | X |
| Services under the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 to the extent that they relate to a payroll function or payments to contractors. | X |
| Determining and reporting the superannuation guarantee shortfall and associated administrative fees. | X |
| Dealing with superannuation payments made through a clearing house. | X |
| Completing and lodging the Taxable payments annual report to the ATO on behalf of a client. | X |
| Sending a TFN declaration to the Commissioner on behalf of a client. | X |